Spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive
What 17 hospitals in the U.S. charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive (DRG 456), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$547,673
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$122,272
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$104,193
Average per stay
Volume
318
Medicare hospital stays
Hospitals in the U.S. billed an average of $547,673 for spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive, about 4.5 times the average total payment of $122,272.
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 $122,272Billed $547,673
About 22¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in the U.S. billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them:
Lowest and highest payments
Among hospitals with at least 20 Medicare hospital stays. Differences reflect local wage costs, teaching status and how sick patients were, as well as price.
Lowest
| New England Baptist HospitalBoston, MA | $87,401 |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, MA | $106,364 |
| Barnes Jewish HospitalSt Louis, MO | $114,810 |
| UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA | $153,937 |
Highest
| UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA | $153,937 |
|---|---|
| Barnes Jewish HospitalSt Louis, MO | $114,810 |
| Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, MA | $106,364 |
| New England Baptist HospitalBoston, MA | $87,401 |
Spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive cost by state
Volume-weighted averages for each state's hospitals. Select a state to see every hospital.
| State | Hospitals | Avg charge | Avg payment | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 5 | $824,823 | $140,363 | $106,332 – $160,366 |
| Colorado | 1 | $847,703 | $100,024 | – |
| Maryland | 1 | $144,069 | $126,230 | – |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $249,228 | $95,867 | $87,401 – $106,364 |
| Missouri | 1 | $445,292 | $114,810 | – |
| New York | 2 | $704,058 | $149,886 | $139,062 – $158,800 |
| Ohio | 1 | $224,090 | $127,632 | – |
| Oregon | 1 | $417,942 | $119,085 | – |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $315,716 | $98,670 | – |
| Utah | 1 | $213,161 | $86,138 | – |
Hospitals that treat the most Medicare patients for this
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA | 47 | $783,179 | $153,937 |
| New England Baptist HospitalBoston, MA | 31 | $192,792 | $87,401 |
| Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, MA | 25 | $319,209 | $106,364 |
| Barnes Jewish HospitalSt Louis, MO | 24 | $445,292 | $114,810 |
| OHSU Hospital and ClinicsPortland, OR | 19 | $417,942 | $119,085 |
| Scripps Green HospitalLa Jolla, CA | 18 | $884,539 | $125,394 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA | 18 | $1,116,885 | $106,332 |
| New York-Presbyterian HospitalNew York, NY | 17 | $477,235 | $158,800 |
| University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz InpatientAurora, CO | 15 | $847,703 | $100,024 |
| University of California San Diego Medical CenterSan Diego, CA | 14 | $700,565 | $137,792 |
| UCI Health-OrangeOrange, CA | 14 | $636,600 | $160,366 |
| The Johns Hopkins HospitalBaltimore, MD | 14 | $144,069 | $126,230 |
| NYU Hospitals CenterNew York, NY | 14 | $979,487 | $139,062 |
| University Health Care/Univ Hospitals and ClinicsSalt Lake City, UT | 13 | $213,161 | $86,138 |
| Cleveland Clinic - Main CampusCleveland, OH | 12 | $224,090 | $127,632 |
Questions
How much does spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive cost in the U.S.?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive (DRG 456) at 17 hospitals in the U.S. was billed at $547,673 on average, while the average total payment was $122,272, of which Medicare paid $104,193. Your own cost depends on your insurance, deductible and the hospital.
Which states pay the most and least for spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive?
Among states with at least three hospitals reporting, the average total payment was highest in California ($140,363) and lowest in California ($140,363).
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 the U.S., average charges were 4.5 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.