Back Problems Cost in California — Compare All Hospitals
Back or spine problems, such as disc disease, spinal narrowing, or severe back pain, treated without surgery. The stay typically involves pain control, medication, and physical therapy.
State average
$79,532
gross charge · DRG 551
Hospitals
42
with published pricing
Price range
$10,384 – $175,956
low to high
Hospitals ranked by gross charge
- 1
Coalinga Regional Medical Center
Coalinga, CA
Gross charge $10,384Cash pay $6,230 - 2
San Joaquin General Hospital
French Camp, CA
Gross charge $11,073Cash pay $6,090 - 3
Alameda Hospital
Alameda, CA
Gross charge $15,907Cash pay $7,954 - 4
Highland Hospital
Oakland, CA
Gross charge $15,907Cash pay $7,954 - 5
Fairchild Medical Center
Yreka, CA
Gross charge $16,542 - 6
Tahoe Forest Hospital
Truckee, CA
Gross charge $32,832 - 7
Adventist Health St Helena
Saint Helena, CA
Gross charge $37,352Cash pay $5,603 - 8
Adventist Health Glendale (Acute Care)
Glendale, CA
Gross charge $37,352Cash pay $5,603Medicare pays (avg) $15,585 - 9
El Centro Regional Medical Center
El Centro, CA
Gross charge $38,728Cash pay $27,110 - 10
Adventist Health Mendocino Coast
Fort Bragg, CA
Gross charge $39,726Cash pay $26,219 - 11
Tri-City Medical Center (Acute Care)
Oceanside, CA
Gross charge $42,780Cash pay $25,668 - 12
Adventist Health Reedley
Reedley, CA
Gross charge $43,457Cash pay $8,257 - 13
Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello
Montebello, CA
Gross charge $43,682 - 14
Adventist Health Hanford
Hanford, CA
Gross charge $45,323Cash pay $8,611 - 15
Adventist Health Clear Lake
Clearlake, CA
Gross charge $46,541Cash pay $16,755 - 16
Adventist Health Howard Memorial
Willits, CA
Gross charge $47,346Cash pay $14,204 - 17
Saint Agnes Medical Center
Fresno, CA
Gross charge $48,339Cash pay $31,420 - 18
Kaweah Health Medical Center
Visalia, CA
Gross charge $52,637Cash pay $14,000Medicare pays (avg) $16,435 - 19
Ridgecrest Regional Hospital
Ridgecrest, CA
Gross charge $56,901Cash pay $30,158 - 20
Adventist Health Ukiah Valley
Ukiah, CA
Gross charge $59,577Cash pay $11,915 - 21
Regional Medical Center
San Jose, CA
Gross charge $68,403Cash pay $47,882 - 22
Adventist Health Tulare
Tulare, CA
Gross charge $74,498Cash pay $14,155 - 23Gross charge $75,555Cash pay $5,289
- 24
Adventist Health Sonora
Sonora, CA
Gross charge $88,503Cash pay $15,045 - 25
Scripps Mercy Hospital
San Diego, CA
Gross charge $91,488Cash pay $22,872Medicare pays (avg) $15,809 - 26
Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla
La Jolla, CA
Gross charge $91,488Cash pay $22,872Medicare pays (avg) $13,885 - 27
Scripps Green Hospital
La Jolla, CA
Gross charge $91,488Cash pay $22,872 - 28
Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas
Encinitas, CA
Gross charge $91,488Cash pay $22,872Medicare pays (avg) $13,250 - 29
Adventist Health and Rideout
Marysville, CA
Gross charge $91,592Cash pay $20,150 - 30
Eisenhower Medical Center
Rancho Mirage, CA
Gross charge $112,824Cash pay $9,252 - 31
Washington Health
Fremont, CA
Gross charge $120,679Cash pay $78,441 - 32
Sharp Grossmont Hospital
La Mesa, CA
Gross charge $131,619Cash pay $98,715 - 33
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
Gross charge $131,619Cash pay $98,715Medicare pays (avg) $15,216 - 34
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Chula Vista, CA
Gross charge $131,619Cash pay $98,715 - 35
Sharp Coronado Hospital
Coronado, CA
Gross charge $131,619Cash pay $98,715 - 36
Adventist Health Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA
Gross charge $135,210Cash pay $20,282 - 37
San Antonio Regional Hospital
Upland, CA
Gross charge $137,175Cash pay $139,918 - 38
Riverside University Health System Medical Center
Moreno Valley, CA
Gross charge $138,622 - 39
Natividad Medical Center
Salinas, CA
Gross charge $140,134 - 40
Redlands Community Hospital
Redlands, CA
Gross charge $172,228Cash pay $41,335 - 41
Adventist Health White Memorial
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge $174,165Cash pay $31,350 - 42
Sonoma Valley Hospital
Sonoma, CA
Gross charge $175,956Cash pay $123,169 - 43
St. Rose Hospital
Hayward, CA
Gross charge — - 44
Dignity Health - Mercy General Hospital
Sacramento, CA
Gross charge — - 45
Riverside Community Hospital
Riverside, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $15,789 - 46
Mad River Community Hospital
Arcata, CA
Gross charge — - 47
Dignity Health - Memorial Hospital
Bakersfield, CA
Gross charge — - 48
St Elizabeth Community Hospital
Red Bluff, CA
Gross charge — - 49
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital
Banning, CA
Gross charge — - 50
Antelope Valley Medical Center
Lancaster, CA
Gross charge — - 51
Glendale Mem Hospital & Hlth Center
Glendale, CA
Gross charge — - 52
St. John's Regional Medical Center
Oxnard, CA
Gross charge — - 53
St Joseph's Medical Center of Stockton
Stockton, CA
Gross charge — - 54
Community Hospital of San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA
Gross charge — - 55
Community Hospital of Huntington Park
Huntington Park, CA
Gross charge — - 56
St. Francis Medical Center
Lynwood, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $16,824 - 57
Marian Regional Medical Center (Acute Care)
Santa Maria, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $16,525 - 58
Northridge Hospital Medical Center (Acute Care)
Northridge, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $16,565 - 59
Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Van Nuys, CA
Gross charge — - 60
Woodland Memorial Hospital
Woodland, CA
Gross charge — - 61
St Bernardine Medical Center
San Bernardino, CA
Gross charge — - 62
San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
San Gabriel, CA
Gross charge — - 63
Dignity Health - Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital
Grass Valley, CA
Gross charge — - 64
UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital
San Francisco, CA
Gross charge — - 65
Sequoia Hospital
Redwood City, CA
Gross charge — - 66
AHMC Anaheim Regional Medical Center
Anaheim, CA
Gross charge — - 67
French Hospital Medical Center
San Luis Obispo, CA
Gross charge — - 68
Dignity Health - Dominican Hospital
Santa Cruz, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $23,844 - 69
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
Colton, CA
Gross charge — - 70
Good Samaritan Hospital, Lp
Bakersfield, CA
Gross charge — - 71
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge — - 72
Alhambra Hospital Medical Center (Acute Care)
Alhambra, CA
Gross charge — - 73
AHMC Seton Medical Center
Daly City, CA
Gross charge — - 74
Dignity Health – Mercy Hospital Downtown
Bakersfield, CA
Gross charge — - 75
Providence St. Mary Medical Center
Apple Valley, CA
Gross charge — - 76
Loma Linda University Medical Center (Acute Care)
Loma Linda, CA
Gross charge — - 77
Marinhealth Medical Center
Greenbrae, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $17,698 - 78
Community Memorial Hospital - Ventura
Ventura, CA
Gross charge — - 79
Dignity Health - Mercy Hospital of Folsom
Folsom, CA
Gross charge — - 80
West Anaheim Medical Center
Anaheim, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $23,984 - 81
Huntington Hospital (Acute Care)
Pasadena, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $14,964 - 82
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Center
Merced, CA
Gross charge — - 83
UCSF Health St. Mary's Hospital
San Francisco, CA
Gross charge — - 84
Memorial Hospital of Gardena
Gardena, CA
Gross charge — - 85
UCLA West Valley Medical Center
West Hills, CA
Gross charge — - 86
Clovis Community Medical Center
Clovis, CA
Gross charge — - 87
Adventist Health Sierra Vista
San Luis Obispo, CA
Gross charge — - 88
Mercy San Juan Medical Center
Carmichael, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $16,262 - 89
Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center (Acute Care — Thousand Oaks)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $15,357 - 90
San Dimas Community Hospital
San Dimas, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $21,168 - 91
Methodist Hospital of Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Gross charge — - 92
East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge — - 93
Fresno Surgical Hospital
Fresno, CA
Gross charge — - 94
Desert Valley Hospital
Victorville, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $22,930 - 95
Whittier Hospital Medical Center
Whittier, CA
Gross charge — - 96
Monterey Park Hospital AHMC
Monterey Park, CA
Gross charge — - 97
Greater El Monte Community Hospital
South El Monte, CA
Gross charge — - 98
Cedar-Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital
Marina Del Rey, CA
Gross charge — - 99
Shasta Regional Medical Center
Redding, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $21,554 - 100
Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta
Murrieta, CA
Gross charge — - 101
Coast Plaza Hospital
Norwalk, CA
Gross charge — - 102
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital
Loma Linda, CA
Gross charge — - 103
Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge — - 104
Glenn Medical Center
Willows, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $1,628 - 105
Mountains Community Hospital
Lake Arrowhead, CA
Gross charge — - 106
Mercy Medical Center of Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta, CA
Gross charge — - 107Gross charge —Cash pay $27,074
- 108
Mark Twain Medical Center
San Andreas, CA
Gross charge — - 109
Community Memorial Hospital – Ojai
Ojai, CA
Gross charge — - 110
Community Regional Medical Center
Fresno, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $16,622 - 111
Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center & Orthopaedic Hospital
Santa Monica, CA
Gross charge — - 112
Doctors Hospital of Manteca
Manteca, CA
Gross charge — - 113
Watsonville Community Hospital
Watsonville, CA
Gross charge — - 114
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
Newport Beach, CA
Gross charge — - 115
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
Pomona, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $14,467 - 116
Desert Regional Medical Center (Acute Care)
Palm Springs, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $19,337 - 117
Sierra View Medical Center
Porterville, CA
Gross charge — - 118
Hi-Desert Medical Center
Joshua Tree, CA
Gross charge — - 119
Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley
Pleasanton, CA
Gross charge — - 120
Northbay Medical Center
Fairfield, CA
Gross charge — - 121
Los Angeles General Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge — - 122
Good Samaritan Hospital (Acute Care — San Jose)
San Jose, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $25,125 - 123
Stanford Health Care
Stanford, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $25,564 - 124
UCSF Medical Center
San Francisco, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $28,305 - 125
University of California Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $25,465 - 126
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $18,319 - 127
San Ramon Regional Medical Center
San Ramon, CA
Gross charge — - 128
Keck Hospital of USC
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge —
California hospitals price back problems (Medicare DRG 551) anywhere from $10,384 to $175,956 — a $165,572 gap between the cheapest and most expensive option. The cheapest is Coalinga Regional Medical Center in Coalinga; the most expensive is Sonoma Valley Hospital in Sonoma. The state average sits at $79,532.
Gross charges are the hospital's list price for the facility part of your stay — the room, operating-room time, nursing, and equipment. Insurance plans negotiate substantial discounts, Medicare and Medicaid pay fixed federal rates, and uninsured patients can usually qualify for a cash-pay discount. But the gross charge still works as a useful benchmark: a hospital that lists back problems at twice the price of another typically negotiates higher rates with insurers too, and quotes more for uninsured patients.
If you're scheduling back problems in California, sort the list below by price, then click each hospital name to see its quality profile — CMS overall star rating, surgical-safety measures, readmission rates, patient-experience scores. The cheapest hospital isn't always the right call. Teaching hospitals often charge more because they take complex cases, and a higher-rated community hospital may deliver equivalent outcomes for a straightforward case at a lower price. Use the price column to narrow the field; use the quality data to make the final call.
Pricing comes from each hospital's Machine-Readable File (MRF), published under the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule. California hospitals missing from the list either don't perform back problems in volume, haven't published a usable price for DRG 551 in their most recent MRF, or fell below our data-quality thresholds (we filter out clearly erroneous entries like $0 charges). The list refreshes as hospitals update their files.