CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: French Hospital Medical Center

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$31,261

about 1.3× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $27,097–$43,924

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$28,890

About the fair price

about $2,371 under the fair price · 1.2× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $31,261 This hospital $28,890

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other CA hospitals

One of the lower prices — 7 of 8 other CA hospitals charge more for the same procedure.

Cheapest $21,342 Priciest $30,932

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

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $31,261 (about 1.3× the $23,504 Medicare rate). French Hospital Medical Center charges insurers about $28,890 — about the fair price. Located in San Luis Obispo, CA.

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✓ Humana✓ Kaiser Permanente Cigna

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	$7,685 - $29,468	33%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$28,890	123%
Aetnamajor	$28,890	123%
Humanamajor	$28,890	123%
Kaiser Permanentemajor	$28,890	123%
Health Net	$28,890	123%
+ 1 smaller / regional plan	$28,890

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 French Hospital Medical Center 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 French Hospital Medical Center

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

College Medical Center · Long Beach $21,342
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital · Salinas $28,958
Mercy Hospital of Folsom · Folsom $30,162
Good Samaritan Hospital, LP · Bakersfield $30,419
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital · Grass Valley $30,438
Mercy Medical Center Redding · Redding $30,746
Mercy Hospital · Bakersfield $30,802
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital · Valencia $30,932

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