Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)
Facility: Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc
Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)
- CPT Billing Code: 451
- Insurance Median: $18,708
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.80x 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 | $10,731 | 46% |
| Aetna | $12,420 - $18,538 | 53% |
| Va | $18,615 | 79% |
| Humana | $18,615 - $25,665 | 79% |
| Vc Hope | $18,615 | 79% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $18,615 | 79% |
| Medicare (plans) | $18,615 - $18,987 | 79% |
| Via Christi Research | $18,615 | 79% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $18,987 - $52,121 | 81% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $18,987 | 81% |
| Corizon | $23,268 | 99% |
| Smarthealth | $26,061 | 111% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $31,645 | 135% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a single-level spinal fusion at Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc, the negotiated rates for major payers like UnitedHealthcare and Humana range from $18,987 to $25,665, while the median negotiated rate across all 13 payers is $18,708. This facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital located in Wichita, Kansas. While specific cash or self-pay median rates are not listed in this dataset, patients should be aware that cash-pay options can sometimes be more affordable than insurance negotiated rates, particularly for those with high-deductible plans where the insurer's allowed amount exceeds the cash price. It is highly recommended to contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay discounts or prompt-pay incentives, which can offer significant fee reductions for upfront payment.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against the Medicare rate of $23,503.93, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care. Although the provided data does not include explicit state or county average comparisons for this specific procedure, the Medicare rate represents the federal government's fixed reimbursement standard used to evaluate hospital pricing markups. Commercial negotiated rates often exceed these benchmarks due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics, but fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150% of the Medicare amount. Patients should avoid relying on summary bills that obscure individual charges and instead request a detailed, itemized statement to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, ensuring they are not overcharged for components of the procedure.