CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$27,885

about 1.2× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $22,919–$30,616

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$23,766

Below the fair price — a good deal

about $4,119 under the fair price · 1.0× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $27,885 This hospital $23,766

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other TN hospitals

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

Cheapest $15,440 Priciest $23,766

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 $27,885 (about 1.2× the $23,504 Medicare rate). Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center charges insurers about $23,766 — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Knoxville, 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	$11,196 - $47,549	48%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$14,504 - $40,933	62%
Aetnamajor	$3,825 - $23,766	16%
Cignamajor	$2,549 - $23,766	11%
Humanamajor	$23,313	99%
Ambetter (Centene)	$2,920	12%
Devoted Health	$23,766	101%
WellCare	$23,766	101%

Government programs also on file: Military & VA.

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 Fort Sanders 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 Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center

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
Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital · Nashville $16,938
Parkwest Medical Center · Knoxville $21,640
Highpoint Health-Sumner With Ascension Saint Thoma · Gallatin $21,673

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