Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)
Facility: Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City
Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)
- CPT Billing Code: 451
- Insurance Median: $23,692
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.01x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $23,692 | 101% |
| Medicare (plans) | $23,692 | 101% |
| Aetna | $23,692 | 101% |
| Cigna | $23,692 | 101% |
| Kaiser | $23,692 | 101% |
| Kansas Health | $23,692 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $23,692 | 101% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Spinal fusion, single level procedure at Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City, the negotiated rates across all seven payers, including Humana, Medicare, and Aetna, are consistently $23,692. This amount aligns exactly with the statewide median negotiated rate for this service. While the facility's Medicare benchmark is $23,503.93, indicating a minimal markup relative to the federal baseline, commercial rates remain identical to the state average. Because these negotiated amounts are uniform across all major insurers, there is no variation in the allowed amount based on your specific plan, and the cash price is not available for comparison in this dataset.
Patients should be aware that while insurance typically covers the negotiated rate, paying cash upfront could sometimes result in a lower total cost if the facility offers a prompt-pay discount, though no specific cash price was reported for this service. To ensure you are not overcharged, it is advisable to request a formal itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, if you encounter a balance bill from an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which prohibits balance billing for emergency and non-emergency services at in-network hospitals. Always verify your deductible status and ask the billing department about self-pay or prompt-pay options before scheduling your visit.