CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: Melrosewakefield Healthcare

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$29,974

about 1.3× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $23,391–$44,315

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$28,022

About the fair price

about $1,952 under the fair price · 1.2× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $29,974 This hospital $28,022 Cash price $38,507 Hospital's list price $55,009

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other MA hospitals

A typical price — 4 charge more and 4 charge less, among the 9 MA hospitals compared.

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 $29,974 (about 1.3× the $23,504 Medicare rate). Melrosewakefield Healthcare charges insurers about $28,022, or about $38,507 in cash — about the fair price. Located in Melrose, 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 - $28,329	119%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$28,329 - $34,420	121%
Aetnamajor	$3,984	17%
Cignamajor	$28,022	119%
Humanamajor	$28,022	119%
Harvard Pilgrim	$28,022	119%
+ 9 smaller / regional plans	$3,105 - $40,562

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 38,507), 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 Melrosewakefield Healthcare 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 Melrosewakefield Healthcare

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
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth · Plymouth $28,349
South Shore Hospital · South Weymouth $28,491
Brown University Health Morton Hospital · Taunton $28,595
Lowell General Hospital · Lowell $28,703

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