Spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive in California
What 10 hospitals in California charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive (DRG 457), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$518,273
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$86,891
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$76,378
Average per stay
State rank
#11 of 11
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in California billed an average of $518,273 for spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive, about 6.0 times the average total payment of $86,891. That payment is 32% above the U.S. average of $65,757.
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 $86,891Billed $518,273
About 17¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in California billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in California:
California hospitals: spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive
Every California hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco | 54 | $552,042 | $104,171 | $89,951 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles | 33 | $807,524 | $79,529 | $66,592 |
| Stanford HospitalPalo Alto | 32 | $557,011 | $94,500 | $85,424 |
| University of California Davis Medical CenterSacramento | 25 | $585,412 | $87,753 | $82,602 |
| USC University HospitalLos Angeles | 18 | $383,285 | $83,951 | $73,379 |
| UCI Health-OrangeOrange | 14 | $319,857 | $89,147 | $84,198 |
| Huntington Memorial HospitalPasadena | 14 | $404,723 | $64,116 | $62,352 |
| St Joseph HospitalOrange | 13 | $207,891 | $80,997 | $49,199 |
| Scripps Green HospitalLa Jolla | 13 | $514,956 | $74,418 | $69,236 |
| Hoag Orthopedic InstituteIrvine | 12 | $233,970 | $55,541 | $54,045 |
Lowest and highest payments in California
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
| Hoag Orthopedic InstituteIrvine, CA | $55,541 |
|---|---|
| Huntington Memorial HospitalPasadena, CA | $64,116 |
| Scripps Green HospitalLa Jolla, CA | $74,418 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA | $79,529 |
| St Joseph HospitalOrange, CA | $80,997 |
Highest
| UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA | $104,171 |
|---|---|
| Stanford HospitalPalo Alto, CA | $94,500 |
| UCI Health-OrangeOrange, CA | $89,147 |
| University of California Davis Medical CenterSacramento, CA | $87,753 |
| USC University HospitalLos Angeles, CA | $83,951 |
Spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive in other states
Questions
How much does spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive cost in California?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive (DRG 457) at 10 hospitals in California was billed at $518,273 on average, while the average total payment was $86,891, of which Medicare paid $76,378. 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 California, average charges were 6.0 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.