CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: Lowell General Hospital

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$30,023

about 1.3× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $23,411–$44,952

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$28,703

About the fair price

about $1,320 under the fair price · 1.2× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $30,023 This hospital $28,703 Cash price $56,467 Hospital's list price $80,667

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other MA hospitals

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

Cheapest $23,031 Priciest $28,703

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

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $30,023 (about 1.3× the $23,504 Medicare rate). Lowell General Hospital charges insurers about $28,703, or about $56,467 in cash — about the fair price. Located in Lowell, MA.

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	$28,022 - $29,258	119%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$29,258 - $40,286	124%
Aetnamajor	$3,959 - $28,703	17%
Cignamajor	$28,703 - $49,270	122%
Humanamajor	$28,703	122%
Harvard Pilgrim	$28,703	122%
+ 9 smaller / regional plans	$6,359 - $45,643

Government programs also on file: Medicare, Medicaid, 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 (about 56,467), 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 Lowell General 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 Lowell General Hospital

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

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital - Milton · Milton $23,031
Newton-Wellesley Hospital · Newton $27,428
Winchester Hospital · Winchester $27,661
Anna Jaques Hospital · Newburyport $27,865
Melrosewakefield Healthcare · Melrose $28,022
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth · Plymouth $28,349
South Shore Hospital · South Weymouth $28,491
Brown University Health Morton Hospital · Taunton $28,595

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