Medical back problems with major complications in Washington
What 9 hospitals in Washington charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for medical back problems with major complications (DRG 551), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$81,740
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$17,107
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$14,576
Average per stay
State rank
#26 of 33
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in Washington billed an average of $81,740 for medical back problems with major complications, about 4.8 times the average total payment of $17,107. That payment is 6% 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 $17,107Billed $81,740
About 21¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Washington billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 2 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Washington:
Washington hospitals: medical back problems with major complications
Every Washington hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S W Washington Medical CenterVancouver | 22 | $76,724 | $16,812 | $13,400 |
| St Joseph Medical CenterTacoma | 19 | $152,361 | $20,444 | $18,886 |
| Kadlec Regional Medical CenterRichland | 17 | $64,573 | $14,216 | $12,523 |
| Tacoma General HospitalTacoma | 16 | $50,388 | $13,928 | $12,541 |
| Harborview Medical CenterSeattle | 15 | $119,735 | $23,493 | $20,005 |
| Good Samaritan Hospital & Rehab CenterPuyallup | 14 | $53,522 | $13,911 | $12,614 |
| University of Washington Medical CtrSeattle | 13 | $48,344 | $18,325 | $13,888 |
| Swedish Medical CenterSeattle | 12 | $75,971 | $18,397 | $14,093 |
| St Anthony HospitalGig Harbor | 11 | $71,787 | $13,534 | $12,051 |
Lowest and highest payments in Washington
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
| St Anthony HospitalGig Harbor, WA | $13,534 |
|---|---|
| Good Samaritan Hospital & Rehab CenterPuyallup, WA | $13,911 |
| Tacoma General HospitalTacoma, WA | $13,928 |
| Kadlec Regional Medical CenterRichland, WA | $14,216 |
| S W Washington Medical CenterVancouver, WA | $16,812 |
Highest
| Harborview Medical CenterSeattle, WA | $23,493 |
|---|---|
| St Joseph Medical CenterTacoma, WA | $20,444 |
| Swedish Medical CenterSeattle, WA | $18,397 |
| University of Washington Medical CtrSeattle, WA | $18,325 |
| S W Washington Medical CenterVancouver, WA | $16,812 |
Medical back problems with major complications in other states
Questions
How much does medical back problems with major complications cost in Washington?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for medical back problems with major complications (DRG 551) at 9 hospitals in Washington was billed at $81,740 on average, while the average total payment was $17,107, of which Medicare paid $14,576. 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 Washington, average charges were 4.8 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.