US Health Care Costs

Neck spine fusion (ACDF)

CPT 22551 · Surgery · hospital facility charge

At the 144 hospitals whose price files we have read so far, the typical cash price is $14,248, and most charge between $4,719 and $17,654 (the middle 80%; price files contain errors, so the extremes are left out). Pick a state to compare its hospitals.

Estimate what you would pay

$14,248typical cash price
$14,091typical commercial insurer rate
$17,478typical list price
144hospitals in 34 states so far
Typical cash price by state
AKMEWIVTNHWAID$16kMTNDMNILMI$18kNY$9.7kMA$7.4kORNVWYSDIAIN$18kOH$4.6kPA$28kNJ$14kCT$11kRICAUTCONE$3.8kMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTN$14kNCSCDCOKLAMS$9.4kALGAHITXFLPR

Every state

StateHospitalsTypical cash priceLowest cashHighest cashTypical insurer price
Alabama1––––
Arizona1–––$10,746
California11–––$20,730
Colorado1–––$12,403
Connecticut1$11,168$11,168$11,168$4,691
Delaware1–––$59,620
Florida16–––$17,041
Georgia4–––$16,367
Iowa1–––$32,715
Idaho2$15,889$15,889$15,889$15,854
Illinois5–––$18,645
Indiana3$17,866$17,866$17,866$33,525
Kansas2–––$16,969
Kentucky2–––$21,951
Massachusetts1$7,415$7,415$7,415$5,764
Michigan3$17,654$17,654$17,654$14,711
Missouri2–––$13,755
Mississippi1$9,436$9,436$9,436$28,399
North Carolina5–––$12,986
Nebraska1$3,825$3,825$3,825$11,093
New Jersey10$14,254$3,786$17,170$12,142
Nevada1–––$5,674
New York3$9,728$9,728$9,728$7,945
Ohio9$4,606$4,606$4,606$23,097
Oklahoma1–––$23,160
Pennsylvania10$27,708$27,708$27,708$9,379
South Carolina4–––$12,842
South Dakota1–––$1,714
Tennessee3$14,207$14,207$14,207$13,369
Texas26–––$8,787
Utah2–––$12,324
Virginia7–––$33,115
Washington2–––$34,021
Wisconsin1–––$18,365
144 hospitals so far: only hospitals whose price files we've read are listed, and more are added every night. The price is the hospital's part; the doctor usually bills separately.

Common questions

How much does neck spine fusion (ACDF) cost at a hospital?

At 22 hospitals that publish a cash price, the typical price for neck spine fusion (ACDF) is $14,248, and most charge between $4,719 and $17,654. The typical rate commercial insurers have negotiated is $14,091. These are hospital prices; independent clinics, imaging centers and labs often charge less.

Is it cheaper to pay cash or use insurance for neck spine fusion (ACDF)?

At 8 of the 22 hospitals that publish both, the cash price is lower than the typical insurer rate. Remember that with insurance you pay only your share of that rate once your deductible is met, and that cash payments usually don't count toward your deductible.

Does the price include the doctor?

No. These are the hospital's own charges, often called the facility fee. The doctors involved, such as the surgeon, the anesthesiologist or the radiologist who reads a scan, usually send a separate bill.

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