Spinal Fusion Except Cervical with Spinal Curvature, Malignancy, Infection or Extensive in California

MS-DRG 456: Spinal fusion except cervical with spinal curvature, malignancy, infection or extensive

$783,179typical hospital bill

$137,792typical amount paid

$106,332–$160,366range paid across 5 hospitals

California hospitals billed Medicare a typical $783,179 for this stay in 2024, about 5.7 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)

Hospital	City	Medicare stays	Billed	Paid
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center	Los Angeles	18	$1,116,885	$106,332
Scripps Green Hospital	La Jolla	18	$884,539	$125,395
Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr	San Diego	14	$700,565	$137,792
Ucsf Medical Center	San Francisco	47	$783,179	$153,937
Uci Health-Orange	Orange	14	$636,600	$160,366

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.