CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: Caromont Regional Medical Center

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$37,061

about 1.6× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $17,857–$44,905

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$38,331

About the fair price

about $1,270 over the fair price · 1.6× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $37,061 This hospital $38,331

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other NC hospitals

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

Cheapest $20,910 Priciest $38,331

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

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $37,061 (about 1.6× the $23,504 Medicare rate). Caromont Regional Medical Center charges insurers about $38,331 — about the fair price. Located in Gastonia, NC.

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	$25,121	107%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$25,121 - $63,251	107%
Aetnamajor	$26,126 - $63,590	111%
Cignamajor	$46,725 - $65,173	199%
Humanamajor	$26,377	112%
AmeriHealth	$38,331	163%
Devoted Health	$26,377	112%
Molina	$26,377	112%
WellCare	$38,331	163%
+ 9 smaller / regional plans	$26,377 - $75,158

Excludes 1 rental-network / third-party entry (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 Caromont Regional Medical Center 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 Caromont Regional Medical Center

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

Haywood Regional Medical Center · Clyde $20,910
Frye Regional Medical Center · Hickory $20,986
Sentara Albemarle Medical Center · Elizabeth City $22,776
Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital · Elkin $24,306
Ecu Health North Hospital · Roanoke Rapids $24,941
Vidant Roanoke Chowan Hospital · Ahoskie $25,525
Vidant Edgecombe Hospital · Tarboro $26,687
The McDowell Hospital · Marion $26,838

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