What 9 hospitals in Colorado charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for spinal fusion except cervical without major complications (DRG 460), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Hospitals in Colorado billed an average of $262,719 for spinal fusion except cervical without major complications, about 7.9 times the average total payment of $33,087. That payment is 3% 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.
About 13¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Colorado billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 2 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Colorado:
Every Colorado hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz InpatientAurora | 48 | $295,102 | $39,369 | $30,907 |
| Centura Health-Porter Adventist HospitalDenver | 22 | $219,579 | $35,167 | $23,703 |
| Sky Ridge Medical CenterLone Tree | 21 | $466,914 | $35,185 | $28,705 |
| Centura Health-Penrose St Francis Health ServicesColorado Springs | 20 | $127,763 | $27,297 | $24,344 |
| Orthocolorado Hospital at St Anthony Med CampusDenver | 20 | $161,346 | $29,286 | $22,846 |
| Swedish Medical CenterEnglewood | 18 | $447,738 | $31,620 | $26,033 |
| Memorial Hospital CentralColorado Springs | 17 | $235,007 | $31,847 | $25,413 |
| Community HospitalGrand Junction | 15 | $89,043 | $26,140 | $24,508 |
| Centura Health-St Anthony Central HospitalDenver | 11 | $224,454 | $28,748 | $27,349 |
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.
| Community HospitalGrand Junction, CO | $26,140 |
|---|---|
| Centura Health-Penrose St Francis Health ServicesColorado Springs, CO | $27,297 |
| Centura Health-St Anthony Central HospitalDenver, CO | $28,748 |
| Orthocolorado Hospital at St Anthony Med CampusDenver, CO | $29,286 |
| Swedish Medical CenterEnglewood, CO | $31,620 |
| University of Colorado Hospital Anschutz InpatientAurora, CO | $39,369 |
|---|---|
| Sky Ridge Medical CenterLone Tree, CO | $35,185 |
| Centura Health-Porter Adventist HospitalDenver, CO | $35,167 |
| Memorial Hospital CentralColorado Springs, CO | $31,847 |
| Swedish Medical CenterEnglewood, CO | $31,620 |
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for spinal fusion except cervical without major complications (DRG 460) at 9 hospitals in Colorado was billed at $262,719 on average, while the average total payment was $33,087, of which Medicare paid $26,670. Your own cost depends on your insurance, deductible and the hospital.
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 Colorado, average charges were 7.9 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.