CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: University of Arkansas Medical Sciences

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$27,362

about 1.2× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $24,777–$32,286

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$30,673

About the fair price

about $3,311 over the fair price · 1.3× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $27,362 This hospital $30,673

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other AR hospitals

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

Cheapest $20,627 Priciest $30,673

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

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $27,362 (about 1.2× the $23,504 Medicare rate). University of Arkansas Medical Sciences charges insurers about $30,673 — about the fair price. Located in Little Rock, AR.

What each insurance company pays

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

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

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Aetna✓ Cigna✓ Humana Kaiser 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	$30,673	131%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$29,703 - $31,169	126%
Aetnamajor	$30,077	128%
Cignamajor	$2,935 - $30,971	12%
Humanamajor	$30,673	131%
Devoted Health	$31,269	133%
WellCare	$30,375	129%
+ 6 smaller / regional plans	$30,077 - $61,048

Government programs also on file: Medicare, 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 Arkansas Medical Sciences 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 Arkansas Medical Sciences

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

Conway Regional Medical Center, Inc · Conway $20,627
Ouachita County Medical Center · Camden $20,783
National Park Medical Center · Hot Springs $20,953
Arkansas Heart Hospital, LLC · Little Rock $21,851
Baxter Health · Mountain Home $22,058
CHI St. Vincent Hospital Hot Springs · Hot Springs $22,789
Lawrence Memorial Hospital · Walnut Ridge $22,819
Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas · Rogers $23,087

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