Back and neck procedures except spinal fusion with MCC or disc device or…
In 2024, Medicare and patients paid an average of $38,704 per stay at 12 hospitals. Half of hospitals averaged between $35,054 and $44,321.
Also known as: Back surgery, laminectomy, discectomy
National figures, 2024
- Average payment per case
- $38,704
- Typical range (middle half of hospitals)
- $35,054–$44,321
- Medicare’s share
- $33,379
- Average billed charge
- $225,601
- Hospitals reporting
- 12
Compare hospitals
Narrow by a state, city or ZIP code (optionally a distance around it), and/or pick specific hospitals. With both, your picks are added to the area’s hospitals.
12 hospitals reported at least 11 Medicare stays for this in 2024. Download as CSV
| Hospital | Cases | Average payment | vs national average | Medicare paid | Billed charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation Surgical Hospital Of San Antonio | 20 | $22,910 | 41% below the national average | $21,522 | $207,178 |
| Saint John's Health Center | 21 | $31,224 | 19% below the national average | $29,428 | $108,070 |
| Cleveland Clinic | 11 | $33,265 | 14% below the national average | $29,711 | $125,674 |
| University Of Colorado Hospital Authority | 12 | $35,651 | About average | $32,428 | $204,037 |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla | 11 | $37,466 | About average | $28,601 | $220,245 |
| Mayo Clinic | 11 | $37,785 | About average | $27,432 | $105,112 |
| Community Hospital Of The Monterey Peninsula | 14 | $41,619 | About average | $40,104 | $179,617 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | 31 | $42,415 | About average | $39,083 | $422,324 |
| Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento | 11 | $44,097 | 14% above the national average | $38,344 | $154,200 |
| AdventHealth Orlando | 12 | $44,996 | 16% above the national average | $21,193 | $224,211 |
| Brigham And Women's Hospital | 11 | $49,400 | 28% above the national average | $44,769 | $224,896 |
| New York-Presbyterian Hospital | 16 | $50,252 | 30% above the national average | $44,950 | $283,981 |
National trend
Average payment and billed charge per stay, and how many Medicare stays were reported each year.
- Average payment
- Average billed charge
View data as a table
| Year of care | Average payment | Average billed charge |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $28K | $134K |
| 2021 | $34K | $204K |
| 2022 | $33K | $213K |
| 2023 | $38K | $233K |
| 2024 | $39K | $226K |
By state, 2024
Case-weighted average payment across each state’s reporting hospitals, lowest first.
Show all 7 states
| State | Hospitals | Cases | Average payment | Typical range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1 | 20 | $22,910 | $22,910–$22,910 |
| Ohio | 1 | 11 | $33,265 | $33,265–$33,265 |
| Colorado | 1 | 12 | $35,651 | $35,651–$35,651 |
| California | 5 | 88 | $39,210 | $37,466–$42,415 |
| Florida | 2 | 23 | $41,547 | $39,588–$43,193 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 11 | $49,400 | $49,400–$49,400 |
| New York | 1 | 16 | $50,252 | $50,252–$50,252 |
About these numbers
Average payment is what Medicare paid plus the patient’s deductible and coinsurance (and any other insurer), averaged over the hospital’s Medicare cases. It covers the hospital’s part of the care; doctors bill separately. Billed charges are the hospital’s list prices, which few patients pay.
Medicare sets its payments by formula, adjusting for local wages, teaching programs, the share of low-income patients and unusually costly cases. Those adjustments drive most differences between hospitals, so a lower payment doesn’t mean better or worse care, and Medicare patients’ own costs usually vary much less than the totals. Private insurance pays different, usually higher, prices.
Source: CMS Medicare Inpatient Hospitals by Provider and Service (Medicare fee-for-service claims). CMS omits hospitals with fewer than 11 stays. More in the glossary.