CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$29,348

about 1.2× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $25,783–$44,230

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$25,744

Below the fair price — a good deal

about $3,604 under the fair price · 1.1× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $29,348 This hospital $25,744

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other SC hospitals

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

Cheapest $18,320 Priciest $25,744

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

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $29,348 (about 1.2× the $23,504 Medicare rate). MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown charges insurers about $25,744 — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Columbia, SC.

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	$23,404 - $64,348	100%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$23,404 - $86,080	100%
Aetnamajor	$24,106 - $53,785	103%
Cignamajor	$23,872 - $59,220	102%
Humanamajor	$23,404	100%
Clover Health	$23,872	102%
Molina	$23,872 - $25,744	102%
WellCare	$23,872	102%
+ 1 smaller / regional plan	$25,159

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 MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown 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 MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown

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

Anmed Health · Anderson $18,320
Cannon Memorial Hospital · Pickens $18,691
MUSC Health Black River Medical Center · Cades $22,026
McLeod Loris Hospital · Loris $22,279
Cherokee Medical Center · Gaffney $23,127
Colleton Medical Center · Walterboro $24,370
MUSC Health Florence Medical Center · Florence $24,371
MUSC Health Marion Medical Center · Mullins $24,830

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