Spinal fusion except cervical without major complications in Louisiana
What 11 hospitals in Louisiana 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
$143,118
Hospital list price billed
Average payment
$28,027
Medicare + patient + other payers
Medicare paid
$23,764
Average per stay
State rank
#7 of 43
1 = lowest average payment
Hospitals in Louisiana billed an average of $143,118 for spinal fusion except cervical without major complications, about 5.1 times the average total payment of $28,027. That payment is 18% 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 $28,027Billed $143,118
About 20¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in Louisiana billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 2 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them in Louisiana:
Louisiana hospitals: spinal fusion except cervical without major complications
Every Louisiana hospital that billed Medicare for this stay at least 11 times. Click a column to sort.
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment | Medicare paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willis Knighton Medical CenterShreveport | 34 | $125,609 | $25,847 | $20,606 |
| Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical CenterBaton Rouge | 26 | $102,801 | $31,180 | $24,273 |
| The Spine Hospital of LouisianaBaton Rouge | 25 | $85,830 | $22,942 | $20,348 |
| Sterling Surgical HospitalSlidell | 23 | $126,013 | $21,745 | $20,198 |
| Lafayette Surgical Specialty HospitalLafayette | 20 | $104,296 | $22,989 | $19,605 |
| Ochsner Foundation HospitalNew Orleans | 17 | $203,652 | $34,516 | $28,396 |
| CHRISTUS St Patrick HospitalLake Charles | 16 | $376,322 | $46,939 | $38,896 |
| Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, INCLafayette | 14 | $117,323 | $23,910 | $22,394 |
| Specialists Hospital ShreveportShreveport | 12 | $93,697 | $23,014 | $21,102 |
| LSU Medical Center-Univ HospShreveport | 11 | $133,916 | $37,390 | $34,094 |
| Southern Surgical HospitalSlidell | 11 | $192,269 | $24,980 | $20,254 |
Lowest and highest payments in Louisiana
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
| Sterling Surgical HospitalSlidell, LA | $21,745 |
|---|---|
| The Spine Hospital of LouisianaBaton Rouge, LA | $22,942 |
| Lafayette Surgical Specialty HospitalLafayette, LA | $22,989 |
| Specialists Hospital ShreveportShreveport, LA | $23,014 |
| Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, INCLafayette, LA | $23,910 |
Highest
| CHRISTUS St Patrick HospitalLake Charles, LA | $46,939 |
|---|---|
| LSU Medical Center-Univ HospShreveport, LA | $37,390 |
| Ochsner Foundation HospitalNew Orleans, LA | $34,516 |
| Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical CenterBaton Rouge, LA | $31,180 |
| Willis Knighton Medical CenterShreveport, LA | $25,847 |
Spinal fusion except cervical without major complications in other states
Questions
How much does spinal fusion except cervical without major complications cost in Louisiana?
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for spinal fusion except cervical without major complications (DRG 460) at 11 hospitals in Louisiana was billed at $143,118 on average, while the average total payment was $28,027, of which Medicare paid $23,764. 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 Louisiana, average charges were 5.1 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.