Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint

Medicare Payment (avg)
$132.96
What Medicare actually pays
Billed Charge (avg)
$976.08
What providers submit
Markup
7.3x
634% above Medicare rate
70.7K
Total Services
49.8K
Beneficiaries
7.1K
Providers
52
States with Data

Price Range Across States

Lowest State Avg
$57.67
North Dakota
Highest State Avg
$278.80
Hawaii

What You Might Pay

Est. Commercial Insurance
$373.82
Range: $261.68 – $523.35
Est. Cash / Self-Pay
$393.58
Typical self-pay discount

Estimated using RAND 2024 commercial-to-Medicare ratios. Actual prices vary by insurer, plan, and facility.

How we estimate these prices

These estimates are based on the RAND Hospital Price Transparency Study (4th Edition, 2024), which found that commercial insurance prices average 224% of Medicare rates nationally. We apply category-specific ratios: Nervous System Surgery procedures average 2.24x Medicare rates. Cash/self-pay estimates blend typical cash discounts (55% of billed charges) with Medicare-based estimates (150% of allowed amounts). These are statistical estimates, not quotes. Contact your insurer or provider for actual costs.

Prices by State

State Medicare Payment Billed Charge
Hawaii $278.80 $567.14
Connecticut $206.52 $1,176.39
Alaska $198.76 $2,433.52
Virginia $193.45 $846.93
New York $182.50 $1,071.50
Kentucky $178.98 $733.51
Oklahoma $178.80 $689.19
North Carolina $169.46 $876.74
District of Columbia $166.79 $912.45
Arizona $158.05 $760.02
Utah $157.06 $683.64
Alabama $156.65 $629.15
Florida $155.16 $1,100.58
South Carolina $152.78 $1,016.58
Michigan $150.91 $765.16
Puerto Rico $147.21 $204.90
New Hampshire $144.34 $941.24
Texas $142.86 $1,045.58
Massachusetts $140.98 $977.44
Nevada $131.45 $2,147.31
New Jersey $129.37 $3,967.89
Colorado $126.81 $852.34
Illinois $126.72 $1,072.04
Oregon $126.37 $836.65
Pennsylvania $122.93 $726.88
Nebraska $120.09 $841.03
New Mexico $119.34 $770.11
Delaware $118.04 $979.90
California $116.78 $1,148.80
Tennessee $114.75 $703.61
Arkansas $112.10 $1,169.73
Washington $110.23 $661.71
Vermont $109.78 $1,340.45
Maine $106.21 $570.21
Rhode Island $105.76 $1,004.95
Indiana $105.06 $998.48
Ohio $96.43 $499.68
Missouri $92.67 $663.83
Maryland $91.51 $708.45
West Virginia $85.40 $269.61
South Dakota $84.22 $348.12
Montana $83.61 $513.16
Georgia $83.14 $810.48
Iowa $82.68 $689.08
Minnesota $79.78 $789.74
Louisiana $79.07 $994.41
Mississippi $76.79 $739.82
Idaho $76.10 $596.65
Kansas $72.50 $704.70
Wisconsin $66.58 $1,210.35
Wyoming $59.88 $1,035.85
North Dakota $57.67 $773.89

What the Data Says About Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint

Across 52 states with reporting providers, CPT code 64634 (Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint) shows a national average Medicare payment of $132.96 against an average billed charge of $976.08. That gap — a 7.3x markup, or 634% above the Medicare allowed amount — reflects chargemaster pricing, not what most insured patients actually pay. Medicare's negotiated rate is the statutory benchmark; commercial insurers typically settle between the two figures based on network contracts.

Nervous System Surgery procedures like this one saw 70.7K services billed to Medicare in 2023 by 7.1K distinct providers, serving 49.8K unique beneficiaries. State-level variation is significant: North Dakota reports the lowest average payment at $57.67, while Hawaii reports the highest at $278.80. Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCIs) explain much of that spread — local malpractice premiums, practice expense, and physician work adjustments all shift the allowed amount even when the procedure is identical.

Applying RAND 2024 commercial-to-Medicare ratios specific to the Nervous System Surgery category (2.24x), the estimated commercial insurance price lands near $373.82, with self-pay cash discounts commonly bringing the figure closer to $393.58. Uninsured patients facing the full billed charge have the strongest leverage to negotiate — the Hospital Price Transparency Rule (effective January 2021) requires providers to publish standard charges, cash rates, and payer-specific negotiated prices. This data is for educational reference; confirm coverage and out-of-pocket exposure with your insurer before any procedure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint cost?

The national average Medicare payment for Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint (CPT 64634) is $132.96, while providers typically bill $976.08. Prices vary significantly by state, ranging from $57.67 to $278.80.

Why do providers charge more than Medicare pays?

Providers set their own chargemaster rates (billed charges), which are typically much higher than what any insurer pays. Medicare pays a fixed rate based on the procedure code and geographic location. The billed charge is relevant mainly for uninsured patients, who may face prices closer to the submitted charge.

How much does Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint cost with insurance?

With commercial insurance, Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint costs an estimated $373.82 on average (range: $261.68 – $523.35). Without insurance, the estimated cash price is $393.58. These estimates are based on RAND 2024 research on commercial-to-Medicare price ratios. Your actual cost depends on your insurer, plan, and provider.

Which state has the lowest cost for Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint?

North Dakota has the lowest average Medicare payment for Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint at $57.67, while Hawaii has the highest at $278.80. This $221.13 difference reflects geographic variation in healthcare costs, local cost of living, and provider market dynamics.

How many providers perform Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint?

Nationally, 7.1K providers billed Medicare for Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint in 2023, performing 70.7K total services for 49.8K beneficiaries across 52 states and territories.

What is the billed-to-Medicare markup for Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint?

Providers bill 7.3x what Medicare pays for Destruction Of Upper Or Middle Spinal Facet Joint Nerves Using Imaging Guidance, Each Additional Facet Joint — a 634% markup. This gap between billed charges and actual payment is common across healthcare. Uninsured patients may face charges closer to the billed amount, while insured patients pay negotiated rates between the Medicare and billed figures.

Related

Data sourced from the CMS Medicare Physician and Other Practitioners dataset. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainProcedure Editorial