Spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive in South Carolina
What 2 hospitals in South Carolina 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
$306,011
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$58,832
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$52,448
Average per stay
Volume
24
Medicare hospital stays
Hospitals in South Carolina billed an average of $306,011 for spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive, about 5.2 times the average total payment of $58,832. That payment is 11% below 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 $58,832Billed $306,011
About 19¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in South Carolina billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in South Carolina:
South Carolina hospitals: spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive
Every South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUSC Medical CenterCharleston | 12 | $259,438 | $70,432 | $59,478 |
| Grand Strand Reg Med CenterMyrtle Beach | 12 | $352,585 | $47,233 | $45,419 |
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 South Carolina?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive (DRG 457) at 2 hospitals in South Carolina was billed at $306,011 on average, while the average total payment was $58,832, of which Medicare paid $52,448. 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 South Carolina, average charges were 5.2 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.