Endoscopic decompression at Synergy is priced as a bundle: $15,000 for lumbar, $16,000 for cervical (2026 rates). The bundle includes surgeon, facility, anesthesia, and routine post-operative follow-up. Pricing is verified annually and disclosed before scheduling. This page explains what those numbers cover, what they don't, and how they compare to the same procedure at hospital settings.
What's included in the bundled price
Surgeon fee for the procedure, facility fee for the accredited surgery center, anesthesia (local with sedation), intraoperative imaging guidance, standard implants or hardware if used, recovery room time, and routine post-operative follow-up appointments within the standard period.The bundle is designed to cover the predictable elements of a routine endoscopic decompression. A patient who has the procedure performed as planned receives a single bill for the bundled amount. There are no separate facility, anesthesia, or assistant surgeon bills arriving later.
What's not included
Pre-operative imaging (MRI, X-ray) if needed beyond what’s already been done, pre-operative clearance from primary care or specialist if required, post-operative physical therapy if prescribed, travel and lodging if traveling from out-of-state, and prescription medications.Complications or extended care beyond routine recovery are addressed separately. The office discusses anticipated scope at consultation; if a more complex procedure is indicated, the price reflects it before scheduling.
Comparison to hospital pricing
Equivalent procedures at hospital settings typically carry chargemaster prices ranging from $25,000 to $80,000 or more before insurance adjustments. After insurance, what patients actually pay varies enormously by plan structure.CMS Hospital Price Transparency data document the variation. Even within the same metro area, prices for the same procedure can differ by multiples between facilities. The advantage of bundled pricing is that the number is known regardless of where the hospital chargemaster sits.
Send your MRI for a free review
Dr. McMillan reviews each scan personally. You get a candid answer about candidacy before any travel or scheduling.
What we suggest doing first
If you are weighing this decision, the most useful single action is sending your MRI for a free review. The review costs nothing and produces a candid written assessment from Dr. McMillan — including the answer that you are not a candidate, when that is the honest answer. We do not ask patients to travel for a procedure that will not help them.
When the review indicates that the endoscopic approach fits, the next step is a $250 consultation. The fee covers Dr. McMillan’s time to review the imaging in detail and discuss what the procedure would involve for your specific situation. If you decide to proceed, the $250 is credited toward the procedure bundle. If you decide not to proceed, you owe the consultation fee and nothing further.
From there, scheduling moves at a pace that fits your situation. The procedure is outpatient, takes about an hour, and most patients are home the same day. Post-procedure follow-up is part of the bundle. For patients coming from out of town, the office coordinates lodging guidance, transportation considerations, and handoff with your local providers — this is a routine part of how we work, not an exception. The goal throughout is to make a complicated decision more navigable, with the actual numbers and the actual options in front of you.
How payment works
Payment is due before the procedure date — typically half at scheduling and balance the day of surgery, though arrangements vary. HSA and FSA funds apply. Medical credit options exist for patients who need financing.For insured patients considering self-pay anyway (high-deductible plans, out-of-network situations), the office provides documentation suitable for submitting an out-of-network claim or HSA/FSA reimbursement. Reimbursement outcomes depend on the specific plan.
Bottom line
Endoscopic decompression at Synergy is priced as a bundle: $15,000 for lumbar, $16,000 for cervical (2026 rates). The bundle includes surgeon, facility, anesthesia, and routine post-operative follow-up. Pricing is verified annually and disclosed before scheduling. This page explains what those numbers cover, what they don't, and how they compare to the same procedure at hospital settings.
If you’ve been told you need a fusion — or you’re trying to avoid one — a free MRI review is the most useful next step. Dr. McMillan reviews each scan personally and tells you candidly whether the endoscopic approach fits your specific anatomy.
For patients dealing with endoscopic decompression cost, the conversation comes down to specifics: what your imaging actually shows, what your symptoms are actually telling us, and which procedure (if any) genuinely matches that pattern. The candid answer is sometimes that you do not need surgery yet; the candid answer is sometimes that you do, but a smaller operation than the one you have been quoted. A second-opinion MRI review separates those cases and gives you the information you need to make the decision well.
How Synergy structures pricing — and why it matters for endoscopic decompression cost
The pricing model at Synergy Spine Center exists because the U.S. spine surgery market historically operates without it. A patient quoted “between $80,000 and $150,000” for a fusion by a hospital surgeon learns the actual number — surgeon, facility, anesthesia, implants, post-op — only after surgery, often via four or five separate invoices arriving over six months. Synergy publishes its 2026 procedural rates on the site at /spine-surgery-cost-transparent-pricing/ precisely so patients can plan financially before scheduling.
For patients researching endoscopic decompression cost specifically, the practical implication is that the price you see at the point of endoscopic decompression for stenosis consultation is the price you pay. Bundled cash pricing covers surgeon time, facility use, anesthesia, and routine post-operative follow-up. There are no separate invoices from the anesthesiologist, no facility fee added by a hospital, and no surprise billing from out-of-network providers because the practice does not contract with any out-of-network providers as part of routine procedures. For comparison context, the endoscopic spine surgery cost page covers how this approach fits the broader pricing picture across spine surgery.
Financial planning begins with the free MRI review, which establishes candidacy before any financial commitment. Patients who are candidates receive a written assessment that includes the specific procedure recommended and the corresponding bundled price. Patients who are not candidates are told that directly, with referral guidance — the review is screening, not sales. Out-of-town patients should also review the 3-day plan and medical travel cost page to estimate total trip expenses. For broader background on healthcare price transparency policy, CMS — Hospital Price Transparency provides regulatory and consumer guidance.
Frequently asked
Is the $15,000 figure current?
Yes for 2026. Pricing is reviewed annually. The office confirms current pricing at scheduling. Out-of-town patients should also review the 3-day plan and the medical travel cost page to estimate full trip cost beyond the procedural fee.
Does the cervical procedure cost more because it's riskier?
The cost differential reflects different equipment, slightly longer procedure time, and slightly different facility requirements — not a different risk profile that translates to higher charges. Detailed price information for the most relevant procedure is at the endoscopic decompression for stenosis page, where 2026 bundled rates are published openly.
What if I need both cervical and lumbar?
Two separate procedures, two separate bundled prices, typically scheduled at least several weeks apart. The office discusses sequencing at consultation. Out-of-town patients should also review the 3-day plan and the medical travel cost page to estimate full trip cost beyond the procedural fee.
Is anesthesia really included?
Yes. Anesthesia for endoscopic decompression is typically local with sedation; the anesthesia provider is part of the surgery center team and the fee is included in the bundle. Detailed price information for the most relevant procedure is at the endoscopic decompression for stenosis page, where 2026 bundled rates are published openly.
What about the consultation fee?
The initial consultation is $250 (2026 rate), credited toward the procedure if surgery is scheduled. For broader context on how Synergy’s approach compares with traditional pricing, the endoscopic spine surgery cost page provides additional comparison.
Are there hidden costs I should expect?
No — the inclusions are documented in writing before scheduling. Outside-the-bundle items (imaging, PT, medications) are discussed in advance. For a personalized price quote tied to your specific diagnosis, submit your imaging through the free MRI review — you’ll receive the bundled price for the specific recommended procedure along with candidacy assessment.
How this page was prepared
This page summarizes the clinical approach taken at Synergy Spine Center for the topic above. It is based on peer-reviewed literature, professional society guidelines (NASS, AAOS), federal patient education resources (NIH, AHRQ, CMS), and Dr. McMillan’s experience as Director of Spinal Medicine and Endoscopic Spinal Surgery. Outcome language is qualified. Individual results vary. Pricing where shown is current for 2026 and may change.
References
- CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule. — source
- PubMed — endoscopic spine surgery cost-effectiveness. — source
- NASS — spine procedure resources. — source
- CMS — Hospital Price Transparency — authoritative reference on endoscopic decompression cost.
- FAIR Health Consumer — Medical Cost Lookup — authoritative reference on endoscopic decompression cost.
Synergy Spine Center publishes patient education content for general information only; it is not medical advice and does not establish a physician-patient relationship. For specific medical guidance, schedule a consultation. No identifiable patient information is included on this page.