Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)
- CPT Billing Code: 451
- Insurance Median: $14,274
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.61x Medicare
Average discount available for prompt cash payment at this facility.
Median negotiated contract rate across all mapped commercial carriers.
Standard federal government reimbursement rate for this code.
Visual Cost Comparison vs. Medicare
Understanding this gauge: We use the federal Medicare rate of $23,503.93 as the cost baseline. Rates below the baseline represent excellent value. In-network commercial rates commonly hover around 150% - 250% of Medicare, while rates exceeding 300% are elevated. Hover over the green and blue markers to view detailed calculations.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimator
Estimate whether it is more economical to use your insurance or pay the upfront self-pay cash rate.
Commercial Insurance Negotiated Rates
Negotiated contract ranges established by major commercial carriers at this facility.
| Carrier / Plan Group | Contract Rate Range | vs. Medicare Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Medica | $10,639 - $10,731 | 45% |
| Aetna | $12,420 - $18,538 | 53% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $21,783 | 93% |
| Humana | $25,665 | 109% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the procedure "Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)" at Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc., the facility's negotiated rates vary significantly by insurer, ranging from $10,639 with Medica to $25,665 with Humana. While the facility's median negotiated rate of $14,274.00 is notably lower than the highest commercial payer rates, it remains substantially higher than the Medicare benchmark of $23,503.93 when adjusted for the specific vs_medicare factor of 0.6 provided in this dataset. Patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract premiums that can inflate the final cost compared to the federal baseline. If you have a high-deductible plan, it may be financially advantageous to pay the cash price directly, as the cash median is not listed here but could potentially be lower than the negotiated amounts if the facility offers a self-pay discount.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is critical to request a full itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. If you receive a balance bill for out-of-network services, remember that the No Surprises Act generally protects you from paying the difference between the provider's chargemaster and your insurance allowed amount for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Additionally, do not accept summary bills that obscure individual line items; instead, demand a detailed CPT-coded statement to identify any discrepancies. Finally, always ask the hospital about "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as paying in full upfront can often reduce the