Out-of-network spine surgery bills soar to $34,000 under No Surprises Act arbitration

A new analysis shows that the median price for a lumbar laminectomy, a common spine surgery, is about $1,400 when performed by in-network providers.

When the same procedure is done by out-of-network clinicians, the No Surprises Act arbitration process can award payments that are roughly 24 times higher, with a median of about $34,000 and some awards exceeding $100,000.

The law, enacted in 2020 to shield patients from unexpected bills, has succeeded in protecting consumers but also created a lucrative avenue for providers, who win more than 80% of arbitration cases.

Critics argue the system is flawed because it incentivizes providers to stay out of network and seek large arbitration awards, raising concerns about overall health-care costs.