CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: University of Alabama Hospital

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$27,731

about 1.2× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $25,030–$31,474

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$28,005

About the fair price

about $274 over the fair price · 1.2× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $27,731 This hospital $28,005

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other AL hospitals

Highest price of the 9 AL hospitals we have prices for — worth calling around.

Cheapest $14,804 Priciest $28,005

Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 AL hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $27,731 (about 1.2× the $23,504 Medicare rate). University of Alabama Hospital charges insurers about $28,005 — about the fair price. Located in Birmingham, AL.

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

4 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Cigna✓ Humana AetnaKaiser Permanente

Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.

Insurance company	Price range	vs. Medicare
UnitedHealthcaremajor	$28,005	119%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$21,547 - $28,005	92%
Cignamajor	$29,966 - $96,266	127%
Humanamajor	$26,045 - $30,246	111%
Ambetter (Centene)	$38,508	164%
+ 5 smaller / regional plans	$28,005 - $28,286

Government programs also on file: Military & VA.

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

Tell the billing desk you want to be billed as self-pay — not through insurance — before your visit.
Ask for the cash / prompt-pay discount in writing, with the exact price, before you agree to anything.
Get it in writing that they won’t also bill your insurance, so the cash price is what you owe.
Check the MS-DRG code on your bill matches exactly: 451.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm University of Alabama Hospital is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for MS-DRG code 451.
Confirm the doctor or provider is in-network too — not just the hospital building.
Check your Explanation of Benefits against the hospital’s final itemized bill.

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost

A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.

How you’d pay

Deductible left to meet ($)

Your coinsurance (%)

Enter your details and press estimate to compare.

Other Procedures at University of Alabama Hospital

Compare: Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) at other AL hospitals

Whitfield Regional Hospital · Demopolis $14,804
North Alabama Medical Center · Florence $18,398
Springhill Medical Center · Mobile $19,192
Hill Hospital of Sumter County · York $20,698
Highlands Medical Center · Scottsboro $22,156
Prattville Baptist Hospital · Prattville $22,481
USA Health HCA Providence Hospital, LLC · Mobile $22,484
St Vincent's Birmingham · Birmingham $23,514

Insurance negotiated median for the same procedure, sorted lowest first.