Back problems (no surgery) in Washington
MS-DRG 552: Medical back problems without mcc
$38,735typical hospital bill
$9,188typical amount paid
$7,818–$12,108range paid across 23 hospitals
Washington hospitals billed Medicare a typical $38,735 for this stay in 2024, about 4.2 times what was actually paid. Medicare's payment depends mostly on the hospital's location and teaching role; the bill depends on the hospital's own price list, so bills vary far more than payments.
Billed (list price)Actually paid (Medicare + patient)
Medicare: CMS, 2024 (hospitals with 11 or more Medicare stays). Cash and insurer prices: hospitals' own price files, where read; insurer figures are commercial plans only, median and 10th–90th percentile across plans.