Spinal fusion except cervical without major complications in Alabama
What 11 hospitals in Alabama charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for spinal fusion except cervical without major complications (DRG 460), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Average charge
$196,598
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$26,705
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$21,198
Average per stay
State rank
#5 of 43
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in Alabama billed an average of $196,598 for spinal fusion except cervical without major complications, about 7.4 times the average total payment of $26,705. That payment is 22% below the U.S. average of $34,025.
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 $26,705Billed $196,598
About 14¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Alabama billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 2 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Alabama:
Alabama hospitals: spinal fusion except cervical without major complications
Every Alabama hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grandview Medical CenterBirmingham | 65 | $406,652 | $23,402 | $19,646 |
| Huntsville HospitalHuntsville | 49 | $174,036 | $24,905 | $21,849 |
| University of Alabama HospitalBirmingham | 48 | $165,761 | $41,192 | $23,355 |
| St Vincent's BirminghamBirmingham | 42 | $86,341 | $21,783 | $18,776 |
| Flowers HospitalDothan | 39 | $301,762 | $22,781 | $20,942 |
| Providence HospitalMobile | 24 | $41,011 | $22,859 | $21,096 |
| Crestwood Medical CenterHuntsville | 24 | $320,146 | $22,372 | $20,275 |
| Jack Hughston Memorial HospitalPhenix City | 24 | $66,872 | $24,073 | $21,562 |
| Mobile InfirmaryMobile | 22 | $76,396 | $25,635 | $19,523 |
| Baptist Medical Center SouthMontgomery | 21 | $86,484 | $24,784 | $22,258 |
| USA Health University HospitalMobile | 16 | $90,395 | $44,858 | $27,922 |
Lowest and highest payments in Alabama
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 Vincent's BirminghamBirmingham, AL | $21,783 |
|---|---|
| Crestwood Medical CenterHuntsville, AL | $22,372 |
| Flowers HospitalDothan, AL | $22,781 |
| Providence HospitalMobile, AL | $22,859 |
| Grandview Medical CenterBirmingham, AL | $23,402 |
Highest
| USA Health University HospitalMobile, AL | $44,858 |
|---|---|
| University of Alabama HospitalBirmingham, AL | $41,192 |
| Mobile InfirmaryMobile, AL | $25,635 |
| Huntsville HospitalHuntsville, AL | $24,905 |
| Baptist Medical Center SouthMontgomery, AL | $24,784 |
Spinal fusion except cervical without major complications in other states
Questions
How much does spinal fusion except cervical without major complications cost in Alabama?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for spinal fusion except cervical without major complications (DRG 460) at 11 hospitals in Alabama was billed at $196,598 on average, while the average total payment was $26,705, of which Medicare paid $21,198. 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 Alabama, average charges were 7.4 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.