National price data · 1,695 hospitals
Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) cost
What a spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) costs across the U.S. — and the fair price to aim for.
Pillar 1 · The BaseRate™ CompositeHow 1.00× Fair BaseRate Works: Raw price averages unfairly penalize hospitals in high-wage cities or trauma centers treating sicker patients. We adjust for local CMS hospital wage levels and patient complexity first. A 1.00× score means right at the fair price average, 0.85× means 15% cheaper than fair market, and 1.30× means 30% above fair market.Near Fair BaseRate Benchmark
1.00×vs. Fair Market Price
Position vs. 1.00× Fair PriceRight at U.S. Average (0%)
1.00× (center of the bar) is the U.S. fair price average after accounting for local hospital wages and patient complexity. Left of center (<1.00×) is below fair price; right of center (>1.00×) is above fair price.
Typical commercial prices here match the fair market benchmark (1.00×) after accounting for local nurse/doctor wages and patient complexity.
Pillar 2 · VeriRate™ Data TrustHow VeriRate™ (0–100) Works: Hospitals are legally required to publish machine-readable price files, but some bury fake $0.01 numbers or omit cash discounts. VeriRate audits each file across 5 checks (hover any badge below to see what it tests).86/100 · Verified
86/100Hover Any Check Below to See How Prices Were Audited
File Completeness90Provenance (File Completeness): Checks whether the hospital published a complete, up-to-date machine-readable price file with valid CPT and MS-DRG billing codes instead of leaving blanks.
Price Logic88Coherence (Price Logic): Checks whether the hospital’s numbers make basic sense — e.g., self-pay cash price is lower than gross list price, with no fake $0.01 or $999,999 placeholder numbers.
Peer Alignment86Concordance (Peer Alignment): Checks whether reported prices sit in a realistic range compared to Medicare and nearby hospitals rather than wild 100× unit errors.
Clean Billing83Regularity (Clean Billing): Checks whether rates are structured consistently across procedures without erratic statistical spikes or hidden unbundled facility fees.
Real Cash Discount84Cash Honesty (Real Cash Discount): Checks whether the hospital offers a genuine self-pay cash discount that beats or matches commercial insurance rates instead of billing full sticker price.
Pillar 3 · Clinical Quality & ER SpeedChecks whether higher hospital prices actually buy better clinical quality — combining CMS Star Ratings, hospital safety scores, and emergency room wait times.Regional Value Leader
CMS Star RatingNot RatedOfficial CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (1 to 5 stars) summarizing mortality, safety of care, readmissions, and patient experience.
Safety ScoreNot ScoredComposite patient safety score (0–100) derived from CMS hospital-acquired infection rates (CLABSI, CAUTI, MRSA, C. diff), surgical complications, and HCAHPS surveys.
Typical ER WaitNo ER DataMedian minutes patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, as reported to CMS Timely and Effective Care.
Balances commercial hospital prices against CMS clinical safety, infection control, and patient experience.
Behavioral Pricing FingerprintMedian-Gamed · High Captive Markup
Loss-Leader / Captive Ancillary Cross-Subsidizer
Carolinas Rehabilitation prices routine shoppable procedures near 3.2× Medicare (p50 1.11×) while skewing captive emergency, lab, and upper-quartile codes to 11.8× Medicare (p75 2.03×, +83% upper-tail jump). Patients scheduling elective outpatient care can capture competitive rates, but emergency and ancillary bills require strict line-item auditing.
#54 of 69 in NC · 76th State Percentile#2,433 of 3,385 in U.S. · 71st National Percentile
Advantage
Where They're Good (Patient & Payer Edge)
- Bottom-quartile procedures (Q25) price at 0.89× the peer BaseRate benchmark
- Self-pay cash beats commercial insurance on 48% of shoppable procedures (99/100 Cash Honesty)
- CMS clinical safety score (54/100 safety score) with 72% patient recommendation
- IRS 501(c)(3) charity care provides free care up to 200% FPL and discounted care up to 400% FPL (41.7% AGB cap)
Watchout
Where You Can Get Burned (Markup Traps)
- Outpatient surgery & OR suites carry a 1.5× markup over Medicare rates
- Captive ER (1.4×) & laboratory (2.2×) services average 3.69× higher multiples than routine shoppable care (3.2×)
- Upper-quartile procedures (Q75 2.03×) jump +83% above the median procedure ratio (Q50 1.11×)
- Unnegotiated chargemaster list prices average 14.0× Medicare (17¢ true HCRIS cost per $1 gross)
Front-Door ShoppableElective / Imaging
3.2× Medicare
Pre-scheduled outpatient procedures where patients can comparison-shop.
Back-Door Captive & ER3.69× Divergence
11.8× Medicare
Emergency, inpatient DRG, lab, and specialty drug lines billed after admission.
Quantile Tail Spread+83% Upper Tail
Q25 0.89× · Q50 1.11× · Q75 2.03×
Detects median-gaming when upper-quartile codes spike above the p50 median.
Select any lens to inspect department markups, federal cost accounting, or insurer discounts.
Department & Integrity Multiples (vs. CMS Medicare Cost Anchor)
Green ≤1.3× · Teal 1.3–1.8× · Amber 1.8–2.5× · Rose >2.5×
Front-Door Shoppable CareFront-Door Shoppable
3.2× MedicareElevated
Outpatient Surgery & ORBack-Door Captive
1.5× MedicareGood
Diagnostic Imaging (CT/MRI)Front-Door Shoppable
2.0× MedicareGood
Back-Door Captive ER VisitsBack-Door Captive
1.4× MedicareGood
Inpatient Lab & PathologyBack-Door Captive
2.2× MedicareFair
Specialty & Infusion Drugs (J-Codes)Back-Door Captive
1.4× MedicareGood
Self-Pay Cash Honesty & 501(r)Integrity & Outcomes
48% Cash Edge · 99/100Good
CMS Clinical Safety & Star ValueIntegrity & Outcomes
3 CMS · 54/100Elevated
National Geographic Price Intelligence · 50-State + DC/PR Cartogram
National State Price Index Heatmap · Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)
State commercial price index vs. U.S. median (1.00×) and average Medicare multiple across all 53 priced states & territories
<0.93× Below Fair Price
0.93–1.05× Near Average
1.05–1.18× Elevated
>1.18× High-Cost State
AK1.36×
1.8× Med
ME0.86×
1.1× Med
WA1.22×
1.6× Med
ID0.90×
1.2× Med
MT0.85×
1.1× Med
ND0.91×
1.2× Med
MN0.85×
1.1× Med
WI1.46×
1.9× Med
MI1.01×
1.3× Med
VT1.21×
1.6× Med
NH1.14×
1.5× Med
OR1.15×
1.5× Med
NV1.07×
1.4× Med
WY0.90×
1.2× Med
SD0.97×
1.3× Med
IA0.90×
1.2× Med
IL0.92×
1.2× Med
IN1.00×
1.3× Med
OH0.86×
1.1× Med
PA0.89×
1.2× Med
NY1.16×
1.5× Med
MA0.96×
1.3× Med
CA1.14×
1.5× Med
UT0.75×
1.0× Med
CO1.10×
1.4× Med
NE1.28×
1.7× Med
MO0.88×
1.2× Med
KY0.82×
1.1× Med
WV0.79×
1.0× Med
VA1.75×
2.3× Med
MD1.20×
1.2× Med
NJ1.21×
1.6× Med
CT1.04×
1.4× Med
AZ0.93×
1.2× Med
NM1.03×
1.3× Med
KS0.72×
0.9× Med
AR0.83×
1.1× Med
TN0.88×
1.1× Med
NC1.11×
1.5× Med
SC0.92×
1.2× Med
DE0.99×
1.3× Med
DC1.48×
1.9× Med
RI0.96×
1.3× Med
OK1.01×
1.3× Med
LA0.80×
1.0× Med
MS0.93×
1.2× Med
AL0.83×
1.1× Med
GA1.17×
1.5× Med
HI1.02×
1.3× Med
TX1.00×
1.3× Med
FL1.01×
1.3× Med
PR0.77×
1.1× Med
KS0.72×0.9× MedUT0.75×1.0× MedPR0.77×1.1× MedWV0.79×1.0× MedLA0.80×1.0× MedKY0.82×1.1× MedAL0.83×1.1× MedAR0.83×1.1× MedMN0.85×1.1× MedMT0.85×1.1× MedME0.86×1.1× MedOH0.86×1.1× MedMO0.88×1.2× MedTN0.88×1.1× MedPA0.89×1.2× MedIA0.90×1.2× MedID0.90×1.2× MedWY0.90×1.2× MedND0.91×1.2× MedIL0.92×1.2× MedSC0.92×1.2× MedAZ0.93×1.2× MedMS0.93×1.2× MedMA0.96×1.3× MedRI0.96×1.3× MedSD0.97×1.3× MedDE0.99×1.3× MedIN1.00×1.3× MedTX1.00×1.3× MedFL1.01×1.3× MedMI1.01×1.3× MedOK1.01×1.3× MedHI1.02×1.3× MedNM1.03×1.3× MedCT1.04×1.4× MedNV1.07×1.4× MedCO1.10×1.4× MedNC1.11×1.5× MedCA1.14×1.5× MedNH1.14×1.5× MedOR1.15×1.5× MedNY1.16×1.5× MedGA1.17×1.5× MedMD1.20×1.2× MedNJ1.21×1.6× MedVT1.21×1.6× MedWA1.22×1.6× MedNE1.28×1.7× MedAK1.36×1.8× MedWI1.46×1.9× MedDC1.48×1.9× MedVA1.75×2.3× Med
5 Lowest-Price States (Confounder-Isolated Value Leaders)
5 Highest-Markup States (Strict Bill Audit Recommended)
The BaseRate high confidence
$30,786
the fair national price for a spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)
typically $22,570–$52,545 across 1,695 hospitals · how we calculate it
modeled estimate · not a bill or quote
1,695
hospitals priced
50
states
2.3×
price spread — where shopping matters
1.3×
vs. Medicare
Across 1,695 hospitals in 50 states, a spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) has a fair BaseRate of $30,786 and typically costs $22,570–$52,545. The cheapest state is KS; the priciest is VA.
Cheapest hospitals for a spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)
- Carolinas Rehabilitation · Charlotte, NC $5,572
- Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern Calif · Sacramento, CA $7,462
- Ascension St John Sapulpa · Sapulpa, OK $11,017
- Independence Health System Butler Memorial Hospita · Butler, PA $11,459
- Memorial Hospital and Manor · Bainbridge, GA $12,060
- Childrens Medical Ctr of Dallas · Dallas, TX $12,081
- Childrens Medical Center Plano · Plano, TX $12,081
- Scott County Hospital · Scott City, KS $12,231
- Kittson Healthcare · Hallock, MN $12,333
- Cass Regional Medical Center · Harrisonville, MO $12,941
- Bellin Health Oconto Hospital · Oconto, WI $13,304
- Ascension St Vincent Warrick · Boonville, IN $13,590
- Ascension St Vincent Salem · Salem, IN $13,700
- Ascension St Vincent Evansville · Evansville, IN $13,833
- Ascension St. Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital · Indianapolis, IN $13,833
Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) cost by state
AK $41,799 2 hospitals AL $25,540 23 hospitals AR $25,664 14 hospitals AZ $28,551 37 hospitals CA $35,217 89 hospitals CO $33,804 38 hospitals CT $32,137 10 hospitals DC $45,397 3 hospitals DE $30,323 3 hospitals FL $31,118 113 hospitals GA $36,014 58 hospitals HI $31,486 10 hospitals IA $27,711 22 hospitals ID $27,687 10 hospitals IL $28,465 57 hospitals IN $30,788 55 hospitals KS $22,082 20 hospitals KY $25,369 22 hospitals LA $24,528 49 hospitals MA $29,531 25 hospitals ME $26,457 5 hospitals MI $31,185 64 hospitals MN $26,228 20 hospitals MO $27,234 39 hospitals MS $28,546 31 hospitals MT $26,168 5 hospitals NC $34,175 47 hospitals ND $27,880 5 hospitals NE $39,350 14 hospitals NH $35,109 8 hospitals NJ $37,097 44 hospitals NM $31,620 10 hospitals NV $33,073 18 hospitals NY $35,605 65 hospitals OH $26,476 85 hospitals OK $31,014 37 hospitals OR $35,539 17 hospitals PA $27,381 91 hospitals RI $29,427 4 hospitals SC $28,258 33 hospitals SD $29,948 3 hospitals TN $27,008 45 hospitals TX $30,652 164 hospitals UT $22,981 11 hospitals VA $53,841 48 hospitals VT $37,381 4 hospitals WA $37,469 31 hospitals WI $44,975 71 hospitals WV $24,430 13 hospitals WY $27,720 3 hospitals
Inline Bill X-Ray & 501(r) Calculator
501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Free Care ≤200% FPL · AGB Cap 36.3%
Audit a Bill or Quote at U.S. Hospital Benchmark (Zero PHI Required)
Fair BaseRate™ $30,786
Medicare Rate $17,856
Self-Pay Cash Request Quote
Insurer Median $30,775
Pre-filled with U.S. Hospital Benchmark’s charged/list benchmark
Screened against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines
2026 FPL: $15,650 + $5,500 per additional person
Step 1 · 501(r) Charity Care Check
501(r) AGB Cap: $26,811 (274% FPL)
Statutory 501(r) AGB Cap Limits Bill to $26,811
At 274% FPL (201%–400% FPL tier), 26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5) caps FAP-eligible bills at Amounts Generally Billed (36.3% of gross = $26,811).
Step 2 · Cash vs. Insurance Arbitrage
Request Prompt-Pay Quote
Compare Prompt-Pay Cash Rate Against Remaining Deductible
Ask U.S. Hospital Benchmark's billing desk for their written 45 CFR § 180 discounted self-pay cash price and Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act.
Step 3 · Fair BaseRate Target
+$43,074 Above Fair BaseRate
Negotiate Toward $30,786 Fair BaseRate ($17,856 Medicare)
Your bill ($73,860) is $43,074 above the denoised Fair BaseRate ($30,786) and 4.1× the $17,856 Medicare rate.
1-Click Factual Dispute Summary: Copy a citation-backed benchmark memo (with CMS CCN, CPT code, Medicare reference, Fair BaseRate, and 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) calculations) to paste into patient-portal messages or billing appeals.