CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$26,879

about 1.1× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $20,229–$28,306

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$20,194

Below the fair price — a good deal

about $6,685 under the fair price · 0.9× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $26,879 This hospital $20,194

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other LA hospitals

One of the lower prices — 6 of 8 other LA hospitals charge more for the same procedure.

Cheapest $19,309 Priciest $20,973

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

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $26,879 (about 1.1× the $23,504 Medicare rate). Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital charges insurers about $20,194 — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Lake Charles, LA.

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✓ 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	$18,785 - $30,798	80%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$18,785 - $46,864	80%
Aetnamajor	$3,194 - $30,734	14%
Cignamajor	$35,964	153%
Humanamajor	$18,785 - $45,373	80%
WellCare	$19,724	84%
+ 10 smaller / regional plans	$3,961 - $55,896

Government programs also on file: Medicare, Military & VA.

Excludes 4 rental-network / third-party entries (e.g. Multiplan, PHCS) — these are pricing networks, not insurers.

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 Christus Ochsner St Patrick 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 Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital

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

St Tammany Parish Hospital · Covington $19,309
Christus Ochsner Lake Area Hospital · Lake Charles $19,851
Winn Parish Medical Center · Winnfield $20,395
Claiborne Memorial Medical Center · Homer $20,517
Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital · Lafayette $20,717
Christus St Frances Cabrini Hospital · Alexandria $20,809
Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital · Hammond $20,930
Oakdale Community Hospital · Oakdale $20,973

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