Price Checker / CPT 64520
How much does N Block Lumbar/thoracic cost?
CPT 64520 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 53x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$360–$730
What this should cost
With insurance
~$124,800
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$910
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $29,180 is $28,630 over the fair price (about 53x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for N Block Lumbar/thoracic
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franciscan Health Orthopedic-Carmel , IN | $94,700 | $24,906 | 39006% |
| Franciscan Health Olympia Fields , IL | $84,083 | $16,817 | 34622% |
| Franciscan Health Lafayette LAFAYETTE, IN | $72,863 | $18,726 | 29989% |
| Cox Barton County Hospital LAMAR, MO | $1,626 | — | 8411% |
| McBride Orthopedic Hospital OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $2,671 | $2,671 | 1003% |
| Howard Memorial Hospital NASHVILLE, AR | $2,606 | — | 976% |
| Wyoming County Community Health System Warsaw, NY | $894 | — | 932% |
| Castro County Hospital District dba Plains Memorial Hospital Dimmitt, TX | $2,171 | — | 662% |
| Riceland Nederland Clinic Nederland, TX | $1,010 | — | 242% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About N Block Lumbar/thoracic
CPT code 64520 refers to n block lumbar/thoracic (billing description: "N block lumbar/thoracic"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $77 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $242 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.