CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: The Medical Center of Aurora & South Hospital

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$31,659

about 1.3× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $22,131–$47,861

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$28,231

Below the fair price — a good deal

about $3,428 under the fair price · 1.2× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $31,659 This hospital $28,231

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other CO hospitals

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

Cheapest $24,349 Priciest $28,231

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

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $31,659 (about 1.3× the $23,504 Medicare rate). The Medical Center of Aurora & South Hospital charges insurers about $28,231 — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Aurora, CO.

What each insurance company pays

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

6 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	$3,458 - $54,995	15%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$2,841 - $65,553	12%
Aetnamajor	$14,138 - $30,000	60%
Cignamajor	$2,867 - $68,712	12%
Humanamajor	$28,231	120%
Kaiser Permanentemajor	$3,100 - $28,796	13%
Bright Health	$28,231	120%
Devoted Health	$28,796	123%
WellCare	$29,078	124%
+ 5 smaller / regional plans	$5,093 - $54,995

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 The Medical Center of Aurora & South 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 The Medical Center of Aurora & South Hospital

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

Animas Surgical Hospital, LLC · Durango $24,349
Banner Fort Collins Medical Center · Fort Collins $25,255
Community Hospital · Grand Junction $25,972
HCA Healthone Rose · Denver $26,166
Centura Health-Penrose St Francis Health Services · Colorado Springs $26,609
Hca-Healthone DBA Swedish Medical Center · Englewood $27,341
HCA Healthone Presbyterian St Luke's · Denver $27,716
Sky Ridge Medical Center · Lone Tree $28,017

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