Variations of Hospital Costs of Spinal Fusion Procedures in Different Regions and Payer Types

Back pain continues to be a leading cause of disability in the United States and is one of the most common reasons for seeking consultation with a physician Nonsurgical interventions remain the first-line of therapy; however, many patients eventually progress to a level of severity that requires surgical treatments such as spinal fusion. Spinal fusion has accounted for the highest total cost among the surgical procedures. The Medicare program reported reimbursing US hospitals $3.2 billion for spinal fusion procedures in fiscal year 2011, making it the third largest CMS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expenditure behind total knee replacement and heart failure. It has also been the focus of attention in investigations to contain hospital costs. The increase in surgical procedures for the management of chronic pain and consequent escalation of healthcare costs has prompted the attention of policy makers as well.