Fusion Of Upper Spine Bone With Removal Of Disc And Release Of Spinal Cord Or Nerve, Each Additional Disc in Alaska

Alaska Pricing in Context

In Alaska, CPT code 22552 (Fusion Of Upper Spine Bone With Removal Of Disc And Release Of Spinal Cord Or Nerve, Each Additional Disc) carries an average Medicare payment of $224.96 — 9% above the national benchmark of $205.80. 37 providers across the state submitted claims for this procedure in 2023, performing 371 total services. Individual payments in AK ranged from N/A at the low end to N/A at the high end, reflecting differences in provider setting (office vs. facility), modifiers, and the specific geographic locality code applied within the state.

The average billed charge in Alaska is $3,392.33, which is the figure uninsured patients would most likely encounter before any negotiation or charity discount. Medicare, by statute, only reimburses the allowed amount — the balance between billed and paid is written off under provider participation agreements. Insured patients generally pay a negotiated rate that falls between these two figures; the exact amount depends on plan design, deductible status, and in-network participation. Because Alaska sits above the national Medicare average, commercial rates in the state may also run higher than the US median.

Using RAND 2024 commercial-to-Medicare ratios for Musculoskeletal Surgery procedures, the estimated commercial insurance price in Alaska lands near $704.45, with self-pay cash prices typically around $1,144.23. Before scheduling, patients can request a Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act, compare cash rates from hospital Machine-Readable Files, and confirm whether the provider is in-network with their specific plan. This page presents CMS reference data for informational use; it does not constitute medical or financial advice.