Medical back problems with major complications in North Carolina
What 13 hospitals in North Carolina charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for medical back problems with major complications (DRG 551), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$57,482
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$16,801
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$12,051
Average per stay
State rank
#25 of 33
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in North Carolina billed an average of $57,482 for medical back problems with major complications, about 3.4 times the average total payment of $16,801. That payment is 4% above the U.S. average of $16,215.
These are averages for patients with original (fee-for-service) Medicare. Private insurance pays different, negotiated prices, and what you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Use these figures to compare hospitals, not as a quote.
Paid $16,801Billed $57,482
About 29¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in North Carolina billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 2 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in North Carolina:
North Carolina hospitals: medical back problems with major complications
Every North Carolina hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Mission Hospital and Asheville Surgery CeAsheville | 31 | $59,172 | $14,592 | $10,212 |
| New Hanover Regional Medical CenterWilmington | 30 | $42,082 | $14,485 | $13,021 |
| Duke University Medical CenterDurham | 26 | $62,209 | $21,517 | $14,760 |
| ECU Health Medical CenterGreenville | 26 | $56,577 | $17,308 | $11,347 |
| Presbyterian HospitalCharlotte | 18 | $47,269 | $13,017 | $11,838 |
| Carolinas Medical Center-NortheastConcord | 16 | $66,757 | $14,839 | $12,865 |
| Carolinas Medical Center/Behav HealthCharlotte | 14 | $83,204 | $21,214 | $13,966 |
| North Carolina Baptist HospitalWinston-Salem | 13 | $86,492 | $38,618 | $13,086 |
| Wakemed, Raleigh CampusRaleigh | 12 | $49,016 | $14,760 | $13,051 |
| Atrium Health PinevilleCharlotte | 12 | $73,206 | $11,940 | $8,370 |
| Rex HospitalRaleigh | 12 | $37,926 | $11,912 | $10,619 |
| Forsyth Memorial HospitalWinston-Salem | 11 | $27,539 | $12,486 | $11,397 |
| Caromont Regional Medical CenterGastonia | 11 | $65,234 | $11,825 | $10,499 |
Lowest and highest payments in North Carolina
Among hospitals with at least 11 Medicare hospital stays. Differences reflect local wage costs, teaching status and how sick patients were, as well as price.
Lowest
| Caromont Regional Medical CenterGastonia, NC | $11,825 |
|---|---|
| Rex HospitalRaleigh, NC | $11,912 |
| Atrium Health PinevilleCharlotte, NC | $11,940 |
| Forsyth Memorial HospitalWinston-Salem, NC | $12,486 |
| Presbyterian HospitalCharlotte, NC | $13,017 |
Highest
| North Carolina Baptist HospitalWinston-Salem, NC | $38,618 |
|---|---|
| Duke University Medical CenterDurham, NC | $21,517 |
| Carolinas Medical Center/Behav HealthCharlotte, NC | $21,214 |
| ECU Health Medical CenterGreenville, NC | $17,308 |
| Carolinas Medical Center-NortheastConcord, NC | $14,839 |
Medical back problems with major complications in other states
Questions
How much does medical back problems with major complications cost in North Carolina?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for medical back problems with major complications (DRG 551) at 13 hospitals in North Carolina was billed at $57,482 on average, while the average total payment was $16,801, of which Medicare paid $12,051. Your own cost depends on your insurance, deductible and the hospital.
Why are hospital charges so much higher than payments?
Charges are a hospital's list prices. Medicare pays fixed rates set in advance, and private insurers negotiate their own discounts, so almost nobody pays the full charge. For this stay in North Carolina, average charges were 3.4 times the average payment. Uninsured patients can ask the hospital about its financial assistance (charity care) policy and cash prices.
Source: CMS, Medicare Inpatient Hospitals by Provider and Service, 2024. Average total payment includes Medicare's payment, the patient's deductible and coinsurance, and any other payer. CMS omits hospitals with fewer than 11 hospital stays for privacy. About the data.