Lumbar spinal fusion, posterior in Iowa
Below is what hospitals in Iowa charge if you pay cash, and the typical rate insurers negotiated.
Cash prices at 14 hospitals in Iowa run from $558 to $4,533. The typical hospital charges $3,842. Where a hospital sits on this scale matters more than the number alone:
typical: $3,842
Cheaper than most hospitalsPricier than most hospitals
14 hospitals. Sort by: Cash price ▲ · Negotiated median · Gross charge · Negotiated low
What these numbers mean.
Cash price is what the hospital lists for patients paying out of pocket.
Negotiated median is the middle of what insurance companies actually agreed to pay.
Gross charge is the sticker price — almost nobody pays it.
What you will actually pay is usually different from both numbers:
with insurance, your deductible, copay, or coinsurance decides what you owe —
the negotiated rate is what the insurer pays, not your bill.
A single line item may not be the whole cost: physician, anesthesia, pathology,
and facility fees can be billed separately.
Prices vary by hospital and change over time; always confirm with the hospital before you go.
| Hospital | Cash price | Where it sits | Insurance pays (typical) | Gross charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center IA · Price file March 31, 2026 | $558Insurance typically pays $634Sticker price $3,488 | Lowest price of any hospital | $634 | $3,488 |
| Iowa Specialty Hospital - Clarion IA · Price file June 11, 2026 | $3,650Insurance typically pays $2,873Sticker price $6,083 | Cheaper than 92% of hospitals | $2,873 | $6,083 |
| Iowa Specialty Hospital - Belmond IA · Price file April 22, 2026 | $3,650Insurance typically pays $2,680Sticker price $6,083 | Cheaper than 92% of hospitals | $2,680 | $6,083 |
| Jones Regional Medical Center IA · Price file November 4, 2026 | $3,842Insurance typically pays $4,578Sticker price $4,803 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $4,578 | $4,803 |
| Grinnell Regional Medical Center IA · Price file November 4, 2026 | $3,842Insurance typically pays $4,578Sticker price $4,803 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $4,578 | $4,803 |
| St Lukes Hospital IA · Price file November 4, 2026 | $3,842Insurance typically pays $4,578Sticker price $4,803 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $4,578 | $4,803 |
| St Lukes Regional Medical Center IA · Price file November 4, 2026 | $3,842Insurance typically pays $4,578Sticker price $4,803 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $4,578 | $4,803 |
| Unitypoint Health - Marshalltown IA · Price file November 4, 2026 | $3,842Insurance typically pays $4,578Sticker price $4,803 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $4,578 | $4,803 |
| Trinity Regional Medical Center IA · Price file November 4, 2026 | $3,842Insurance typically pays $4,578Sticker price $4,803 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $4,578 | $4,803 |
| Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi IA · Price file November 4, 2026 | $3,842Insurance typically pays $4,578Sticker price $4,803 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $4,578 | $4,803 |
| Finley Hospital IA · Price file November 4, 2026 | $3,842Insurance typically pays $4,578Sticker price $4,803 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $4,578 | $4,803 |
| Trinity Muscatine IA · Price file November 4, 2026 | $3,842Insurance typically pays $4,578Sticker price $4,803 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $4,578 | $4,803 |
| Allen Hospital IA · Price file November 4, 2026 | $3,842Insurance typically pays $4,578Sticker price $4,803 | Cheaper than 77% of hospitals | $4,578 | $4,803 |
| St Anthony Regional Hospital & Nursing Home IA · Price file November 3, 2026 | $4,533Insurance typically pays $2,057Sticker price $4,533 | Highest price of any hospital | $2,057 | $4,533 |
Procedure code 22612. Prices are from each hospital's own published price file — see methodology.