What 15 hospitals in the U.S. charged and were paid for a Medicare hospital stay for spinal procedures with major complications (DRG 028), from 2024 Medicare claims.
Hospitals in the U.S. billed an average of $268,229 for spinal procedures with major complications, about 3.9 times the average total payment of $69,667.
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 26¢ was paid for every $1 hospitals in the U.S. billed for this stay.
Medicare prices this stay in 3 versions, by how sick the patient was. Compare them:
Volume-weighted averages for each state's hospitals. Select a state to see every hospital.
| State | Hospitals | Avg charge | Avg payment | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2 | $435,210 | $76,488 | $62,354 – $90,621 |
| Indiana | 1 | $282,746 | $56,486 | – |
| Maryland | 1 | $122,911 | $112,908 | – |
| Minnesota | 1 | $156,543 | $78,242 | – |
| Nevada | 1 | $131,867 | $46,811 | – |
| New York | 1 | $335,566 | $79,840 | – |
| North Carolina | 1 | $276,932 | $60,483 | – |
| Ohio | 1 | $185,790 | $46,321 | – |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $305,242 | $77,561 | – |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $172,127 | $63,480 | – |
| South Carolina | 1 | $276,791 | $81,130 | – |
| Texas | 2 | $253,523 | $51,301 | $47,058 – $54,891 |
| Washington | 1 | $341,138 | $74,909 | – |
| Hospital | Stays | Avg charge | Avg payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Presbyterian HospitalNew York, NY | 17 | $335,566 | $79,840 |
| Harborview Medical CenterSeattle, WA | 15 | $341,138 | $74,909 |
| Riverside Methodist HospitalColumbus, OH | 14 | $185,790 | $46,321 |
| UCSF Medical CenterSan Francisco, CA | 13 | $311,701 | $90,621 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLos Angeles, CA | 13 | $558,718 | $62,354 |
| University of Maryland Medical CenterBaltimore, MD | 13 | $122,911 | $112,908 |
| Mayo Clinic - Saint Marys HospitalRochester, MN | 13 | $156,543 | $78,242 |
| MUSC Medical CenterCharleston, SC | 13 | $276,791 | $81,130 |
| Memorial Hermann Texas Medical CenterHouston, TX | 13 | $286,095 | $54,891 |
| St Vincent Hospital & Health ServicesIndianapolis, IN | 12 | $282,746 | $56,486 |
| Thomas Jefferson University HospitalPhiladelphia, PA | 12 | $305,242 | $77,561 |
| Renown Regional Medical CenterReno, NV | 11 | $131,867 | $46,811 |
| Carolinas Medical Center/Behav HealthCharlotte, NC | 11 | $276,932 | $60,483 |
| Rhode Island HospitalProvidence, RI | 11 | $172,127 | $63,480 |
| Methodist Hospital,TheHouston, TX | 11 | $215,028 | $47,058 |
In 2024 Medicare data, a hospital stay for spinal procedures with major complications (DRG 028) at 15 hospitals in the U.S. was billed at $268,229 on average, while the average total payment was $69,667, of which Medicare paid $61,267. 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 the U.S., average charges were 3.9 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.