CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$26,394

about 1.1× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $16,280–$35,660

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$16,938

Below the fair price — a good deal

about $9,456 under the fair price · 0.7× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $26,394 This hospital $16,938

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other TN hospitals

A typical price — 3 charge more and 5 charge less, among the 9 TN hospitals compared.

Cheapest $15,440 Priciest $22,851

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

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $26,394 (about 1.1× the $23,504 Medicare rate). Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital charges insurers about $16,938 — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Nashville, TN.

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	$11,485 - $19,633	49%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$15,440 - $65,411	66%
Aetnamajor	$19,970 - $20,300	85%
Cignamajor	$9,450 - $16,559	40%
Humanamajor	$11,267 - $19,633	48%
Ambetter (Centene)	$25,523	109%
Amerigroup	$20,222	86%
Cigna HealthSpring	$19,633	84%
Oscar Health	$8,150 - $8,394	35%
+ 6 smaller / regional plans	$10,594 - $27,486

Government programs also on file: Medicare, Military & VA.

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 Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital 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 Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital

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

Saint Thomas Hickman Hospital · Centerville $15,440
Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital · Murfreesboro $15,974
Dekalb Community Hospital · Smithville $15,974
Saint Thomas Highlands Hospital · Sparta $15,974
Stones River Hospital · Woodbury $15,974
Parkwest Medical Center · Knoxville $21,640
Highpoint Health-Sumner With Ascension Saint Thoma · Gallatin $21,673
Morristown Hamblen Hospital Association · Morristown $22,851

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