Medical Back Problems Cost in California — Compare All Hospitals
Hospitalization for medical (non-surgical) back conditions including herniated discs, severe radiculopathy, and chronic pain crises.
State average
$53,945
gross charge · DRG 552
Hospitals
48
with published pricing
Price range
$3,335 – $125,189
low to high
Data notes for California
- The lowest published charge ($3,335 at Colusa Medical Center) is unusually low for an inpatient stay. This may reflect a data-quality issue in the hospital's MRF rather than an actual price — verify directly with the hospital before relying on it.
Hospitals ranked by gross charge
- 1
Colusa Medical Center
Colusa, CA
Gross charge $3,335Cash pay $2,001 - 2
Modoc Medical Center
Alturas, CA
Gross charge $4,276 - 3
Coalinga Regional Medical Center
Coalinga, CA
Gross charge $4,648Cash pay $2,789 - 4
San Joaquin General Hospital
French Camp, CA
Gross charge $6,351Cash pay $3,493 - 5
Tahoe Forest Hospital
Truckee, CA
Gross charge $13,071 - 6
Ridgecrest Regional Hospital
Ridgecrest, CA
Gross charge $16,955Cash pay $8,986 - 7
Fairchild Medical Center
Yreka, CA
Gross charge $18,149 - 8
Scripps Mercy Hospital
San Diego, CA
Gross charge $18,550Cash pay $4,638Medicare pays (avg) $9,059 - 9
Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla
La Jolla, CA
Gross charge $18,550Cash pay $4,638Medicare pays (avg) $8,145 - 10
Scripps Green Hospital
La Jolla, CA
Gross charge $18,550Cash pay $4,638Medicare pays (avg) $8,972 - 11
Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas
Encinitas, CA
Gross charge $18,550Cash pay $4,638Medicare pays (avg) $7,689 - 12
Adventist Health Reedley
Reedley, CA
Gross charge $27,762Cash pay $5,275 - 13
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital
Hollister, CA
Gross charge $28,929 - 14
Adventist Health Mendocino Coast
Fort Bragg, CA
Gross charge $33,468Cash pay $22,089 - 15
Tri-City Medical Center (Acute Care)
Oceanside, CA
Gross charge $33,603Cash pay $20,162Medicare pays (avg) $7,688 - 16
Adventist Health White Memorial Montebello
Montebello, CA
Gross charge $34,067 - 17
Barstow Community Hospital
Barstow, CA
Gross charge $34,409Cash pay $20,645 - 18
Sonoma Valley Hospital
Sonoma, CA
Gross charge $35,967Cash pay $25,177 - 19
Adventist Health Ukiah Valley
Ukiah, CA
Gross charge $38,286Cash pay $7,657 - 20
Kaweah Health Medical Center
Visalia, CA
Gross charge $42,131Cash pay $14,000Medicare pays (avg) $9,319 - 21
Adventist Health St Helena
Saint Helena, CA
Gross charge $48,155Cash pay $7,223 - 22
Adventist Health Glendale (Acute Care)
Glendale, CA
Gross charge $48,155Cash pay $7,223Medicare pays (avg) $8,894 - 23
Adventist Health Tulare
Tulare, CA
Gross charge $48,977Cash pay $9,306 - 24
Adventist Health and Rideout
Marysville, CA
Gross charge $53,012Cash pay $11,663 - 25
Adventist Health Hanford
Hanford, CA
Gross charge $56,253Cash pay $10,688 - 26
Adventist Health Sonora
Sonora, CA
Gross charge $56,422Cash pay $9,592 - 27
Adventist Health Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA
Gross charge $56,766Cash pay $8,515 - 28
El Centro Regional Medical Center
El Centro, CA
Gross charge $56,974Cash pay $39,882 - 29
Southern Monterey County Memorial Hospital
King City, CA
Gross charge $59,427Cash pay $44,570 - 30Gross charge $60,226
- 31
Eisenhower Medical Center
Rancho Mirage, CA
Gross charge $61,109Cash pay $5,324Medicare pays (avg) $8,657 - 32
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
Gross charge $73,619Cash pay $55,214Medicare pays (avg) $8,754 - 33
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Chula Vista, CA
Gross charge $73,619Cash pay $55,214Medicare pays (avg) $9,077 - 34
Sharp Grossmont Hospital
La Mesa, CA
Gross charge $73,619Cash pay $55,214Medicare pays (avg) $8,459 - 35
Sharp Coronado Hospital
Coronado, CA
Gross charge $73,619Cash pay $55,214 - 36
San Antonio Regional Hospital
Upland, CA
Gross charge $79,367Cash pay $80,954Medicare pays (avg) $7,653 - 37
Washington Health
Fremont, CA
Gross charge $83,316Cash pay $54,156Medicare pays (avg) $9,472 - 38Gross charge $83,617Cash pay $5,853
- 39
Natividad Medical Center
Salinas, CA
Gross charge $84,146Medicare pays (avg) $11,581 - 40
Adventist Health Howard Memorial
Willits, CA
Gross charge $86,380Cash pay $25,914 - 41
Alameda Hospital
Alameda, CA
Gross charge $90,149Cash pay $45,074 - 42
Highland Hospital
Oakland, CA
Gross charge $90,149Cash pay $45,074Medicare pays (avg) $16,749 - 43
Redlands Community Hospital
Redlands, CA
Gross charge $92,463Cash pay $22,191 - 44
Adventist Health White Memorial
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge $97,645Cash pay $17,576Medicare pays (avg) $10,908 - 45
Kern Valley Healthcare District
Lake Isabella, CA
Gross charge $98,453 - 46
Adventist Health Clear Lake
Clearlake, CA
Gross charge $108,399Cash pay $39,024 - 47
Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley
Tehachapi, CA
Gross charge $120,529Cash pay $32,543 - 48
Riverside University Health System Medical Center
Moreno Valley, CA
Gross charge $125,189Medicare pays (avg) $12,913 - 49
St. Rose Hospital
Hayward, CA
Gross charge — - 50
Dignity Health - Mercy General Hospital
Sacramento, CA
Gross charge — - 51
Riverside Community Hospital
Riverside, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $10,005 - 52
Mad River Community Hospital
Arcata, CA
Gross charge — - 53
Dignity Health - Memorial Hospital
Bakersfield, CA
Gross charge — - 54
St Elizabeth Community Hospital
Red Bluff, CA
Gross charge — - 55
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital
Banning, CA
Gross charge — - 56
Antelope Valley Medical Center
Lancaster, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,885 - 57
Glendale Mem Hospital & Hlth Center
Glendale, CA
Gross charge — - 58
St. John's Regional Medical Center
Oxnard, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,215 - 59
St Joseph's Medical Center of Stockton
Stockton, CA
Gross charge — - 60
Community Hospital of San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA
Gross charge — - 61
Community Hospital of Huntington Park
Huntington Park, CA
Gross charge — - 62
Saint Agnes Medical Center
Fresno, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $27,228Medicare pays (avg) $9,485 - 63
St. Francis Medical Center
Lynwood, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $9,851Medicare pays (avg) $10,006 - 64
Marian Regional Medical Center (Acute Care)
Santa Maria, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,771 - 65
Northridge Hospital Medical Center (Acute Care)
Northridge, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,829 - 66
Doctors Hospital of Manteca
Manteca, CA
Gross charge — - 67
Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Van Nuys, CA
Gross charge — - 68
Woodland Memorial Hospital
Woodland, CA
Gross charge — - 69
St Bernardine Medical Center
San Bernardino, CA
Gross charge — - 70
Dignity Health - Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital
Grass Valley, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,510 - 71
UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital
San Francisco, CA
Gross charge — - 72
Sequoia Hospital
Redwood City, CA
Gross charge — - 73
AHMC Anaheim Regional Medical Center
Anaheim, CA
Gross charge — - 74
French Hospital Medical Center
San Luis Obispo, CA
Gross charge — - 75
Dignity Health - Dominican Hospital
Santa Cruz, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $9,064 - 76
Desert Regional Medical Center (Acute Care)
Palm Springs, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,991 - 77
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
Colton, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $13,734 - 78
Good Samaritan Hospital, Lp
Bakersfield, CA
Gross charge — - 79
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $13,878 - 80
Hi-Desert Medical Center
Joshua Tree, CA
Gross charge — - 81
Alhambra Hospital Medical Center (Acute Care)
Alhambra, CA
Gross charge — - 82
Dignity Health – Mercy Hospital Downtown
Bakersfield, CA
Gross charge — - 83
Providence St. Mary Medical Center
Apple Valley, CA
Gross charge — - 84
Loma Linda University Medical Center (Acute Care)
Loma Linda, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $11,993 - 85
Marinhealth Medical Center
Greenbrae, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $9,306 - 86
Good Samaritan Hospital (Acute Care — San Jose)
San Jose, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,238 - 87
Community Memorial Hospital - Ventura
Ventura, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $9,053 - 88
Dignity Health - Mercy Hospital of Folsom
Folsom, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $7,507 - 89
West Anaheim Medical Center
Anaheim, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $13,762Medicare pays (avg) $8,588 - 90
Huntington Hospital (Acute Care)
Pasadena, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,435 - 91
Dignity Health – Mercy Medical Center
Merced, CA
Gross charge — - 92
UCSF Health St. Mary's Hospital
San Francisco, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $12,472 - 93
Memorial Hospital of Gardena
Gardena, CA
Gross charge — - 94
UCLA West Valley Medical Center
West Hills, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,256 - 95
Clovis Community Medical Center
Clovis, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,003 - 96
Adventist Health Sierra Vista
San Luis Obispo, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $7,981 - 97
Mercy San Juan Medical Center
Carmichael, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $9,005 - 98
Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center (Acute Care — Thousand Oaks)
Thousand Oaks, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,230 - 99
La Palma Intercommunity Hospital (Acute Care)
La Palma, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $12,930 - 100
San Dimas Community Hospital
San Dimas, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $12,064 - 101
Methodist Hospital of Sacramento
Sacramento, CA
Gross charge — - 102
East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge — - 103
San Ramon Regional Medical Center
San Ramon, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $9,124 - 104
Fresno Surgical Hospital
Fresno, CA
Gross charge — - 105
Desert Valley Hospital
Victorville, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $13,089Medicare pays (avg) $8,458 - 106
Monterey Park Hospital AHMC
Monterey Park, CA
Gross charge — - 107
Cedar-Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital
Marina Del Rey, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $7,890 - 108
Shasta Regional Medical Center
Redding, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $12,229Medicare pays (avg) $7,776 - 109
Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta
Murrieta, CA
Gross charge — - 110
Coast Plaza Hospital
Norwalk, CA
Gross charge — - 111
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital
Loma Linda, CA
Gross charge — - 112
Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge — - 113
Glenn Medical Center
Willows, CA
Gross charge — - 114
Mountains Community Hospital
Lake Arrowhead, CA
Gross charge — - 115
Mercy Medical Center of Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta, CA
Gross charge — - 116Gross charge —Cash pay $15,366
- 117
Seneca District Hospital
Chester, CA
Gross charge —Cash pay $765 - 118
Mark Twain Medical Center
San Andreas, CA
Gross charge — - 119
Watsonville Community Hospital
Watsonville, CA
Gross charge — - 120
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
Newport Beach, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,090 - 121
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center
Pomona, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $8,030 - 122
Sierra View Medical Center
Porterville, CA
Gross charge — - 123
Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley
Pleasanton, CA
Gross charge — - 124
Northbay Medical Center
Fairfield, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $10,451 - 125
Los Angeles General Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge — - 126
Stanford Health Care
Stanford, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $12,479 - 127
UCSF Medical Center
San Francisco, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $13,432 - 128
University of California Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $11,054 - 129
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $9,846 - 130
Keck Hospital of USC
Los Angeles, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $10,293 - 131
Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center & Orthopaedic Hospital
Santa Monica, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $9,934 - 132
San Gabriel Valley Medical Center
San Gabriel, CA
Gross charge — - 133
AHMC Seton Medical Center
Daly City, CA
Gross charge — - 134
Whittier Hospital Medical Center
Whittier, CA
Gross charge — - 135
Greater El Monte Community Hospital
South El Monte, CA
Gross charge — - 136
Community Regional Medical Center
Fresno, CA
Gross charge —Medicare pays (avg) $9,408
California hospitals price medical back problems (Medicare DRG 552) anywhere from $3,335 to $125,189 — a $121,854 gap between the cheapest and most expensive option. The cheapest is Colusa Medical Center in Colusa; the most expensive is Riverside University Health System Medical Center in Moreno Valley. The state average sits at $53,945.
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 medical 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 medical 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 medical back problems in volume, haven't published a usable price for DRG 552 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.