CMS Price Transparency Data

Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay)

Facility: Highline Medical Center

Billing Code: 451 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$38,862

about 1.7× the $23,504 Medicare rate · typically $25,220–$58,890

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$33,270

Below the fair price — a good deal

about $5,592 under the fair price · 1.4× Medicare

Medicare pays $23,504 Fair price $38,862 This hospital $33,270

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other WA hospitals

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

Cheapest $18,516 Priciest $33,270

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

A fair price for a Spinal fusion, single level (inpatient stay) is about $38,862 (about 1.7× the $23,504 Medicare rate). Highline Medical Center charges insurers about $33,270 — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Burien, WA.

What each insurance company pays

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

6 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	$23,658 - $74,403	101%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$23,658 - $48,915	101%
Aetnamajor	$23,658 - $72,981	101%
Cignamajor	$47,623 - $59,436	203%
Humanamajor	$23,658 - $28,524	101%
Kaiser Permanentemajor	$26,658	113%
Amerigroup	$28,524	121%
CareSource	$24,131 - $39,486	103%
Devoted Health	$26,937	115%
Medical Mutual	$54,125	230%
Molina	$24,841 - $51,051	106%
Paramount	$23,658	101%
+ 7 smaller / regional plans	$23,658 - $55,449

Government programs also on file: Medicare.

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 Highline 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 Highline Medical Center

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

Prosser Memorial Hospital · Prosser $18,516
Trios Health · Kennewick $24,790
Valley Medical Center · Renton $29,392
Providence St Mary Medical Center · Walla Walla $29,774
Providence Holy Family Hospital · Spokane $30,306
Providence Centralia Hospital · Centralia $31,095
Swedish Issaquah · Issaquah $31,096
Kadlec Regional Medical Center · Richland $31,804

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