Prices at 4 hospitals in North Dakota, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $6,030 — 21% below the US median ($7,655), roughly 5.2× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altru Hospital | Grand Forks, ND | $6,030 | $8,142 | ★ 3/5 | 167 min | 13.9% |
CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated August 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $6,030 — about 5.2× the Medicare rate ($1,157). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($2,315).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $9,885 list price could save about $3,855 (39%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
Laminectomy (spine) cost in other states
All Laminectomy (spine) prices (national) → · All hospitals in North Dakota →