Spinal fusion (not neck), no complications in Houston, TX: hospital prices

MS-DRG 460 is the inpatient stay for a spinal fusion below the neck, most often a lumbar fusion for instability, spondylolisthesis or degenerative disc disease that has not responded to other treatment. The stay is typically two to four days and recovery takes months.

What the price covers

The DRG price is the hospital's charge for the whole stay: operating room, implants (screws, rods, cages, bone graft), room and board, nursing and supplies. The surgeon and anesthesiologist bill separately, as do rehabilitation and any bracing.

Before you compare prices

Lumbar fusion for back pain without instability is one of the most debated operations in medicine, and outcomes vary widely. A second opinion is worth more than a lower price. When surgery is clearly indicated, the price spread between hospitals in the same area is large, often two to four times for the identical DRG.

Questions to ask

• What is the self-pay price for DRG 460, and what do surgeon and anesthesia add?
• Which implants will be used, and how much of the price are they?
• What is the expected length of stay, and what does an extra day cost?