CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: UPMC Passavant

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$27,696

about 1.2× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $21,463–$35,665

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$24,923

Below the fair price — a good deal

about $2,773 under the fair price · 1.1× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $27,696 This hospital $24,923

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other PA hospitals

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

Cheapest $11,459 Priciest $24,923

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

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $27,696 (about 1.2× the $23,504 Medicare rate). UPMC Passavant charges insurers about $24,923 — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Pittsburgh, PA.

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

3 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Aetna CignaHumanaKaiser 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	$24,231 - $25,385	103%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$23,077 - $96,143	98%
Aetnamajor	$24,231 - $25,385	103%
AmeriHealth	$24,923	106%
UPMC Health Plan	$10,293 - $32,752	44%
+ 3 smaller / regional plans	$7,529 - $24,923

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 UPMC Passavant 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 UPMC Passavant

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

Independence Health System Butler Memorial Hospita · Butler $11,459
Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital · Bloomsburg $20,421
Uniontown Hospital · Uniontown $21,447
Meadville Medical Center · Meadville $22,466
Advanced Surgical Hospital · Washington $22,477
Allegheny Valley Hospital · Natrona $22,528
Canonsburg General Hospital · Canonsburg $22,545
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center · Lancaster $22,668

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