Transparent pricing means specific published prices, clear scope of what's included, and explicit disclosure of any items that aren't. Many practices use the language without delivering the substance. The CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule provides a baseline; bundled cash pricing delivers more clarity for self-pay patients.
What transparent pricing actually requires
A specific number. Not a range with the high end disclaimer’d into invisibility. Not ‘starting at’ pricing that bears no relation to actual costs. A specific number that applies to a defined procedure for a standard case.Defined scope. What’s included in that number: surgeon, anesthesia, facility, follow-up, supplies. What isn’t: pre-op labs, pathology if applicable, additional imaging beyond what’s provided. Both lists need to be explicit.
Honest disclosure. If complex cases are priced differently, that’s clearly stated. If certain situations would require additional charges, those are identified before scheduling, not at billing.
Synergy's bundled cash prices
Lumbar endoscopic microdiscectomy or laminotomy: $15,000. Cervical endoscopic procedure: $16,000. Percutaneous discectomy: $6,000. COOLIEF cooled radiofrequency: knee $3,000, hip $4,000, shoulder $3,000. All 2026 pricing.Included: surgeon professional fee, anesthesia, facility, routine post-operative follow-up, standard supplies for the procedure. Not included: pre-op labs if needed (typically under $200), pathology if applicable, any additional imaging beyond what the patient provides, prescriptions filled after the procedure.
Complex cases (multiple levels, unusual anatomy, revision after prior fusion) are priced individually based on complexity. The default bundle applies to standard cases.
How CMS transparency rules fit
The CMS Hospital Price Transparency Final Rule requires hospitals to publish negotiated rates with insurers in machine-readable format. Implementation has been uneven; many hospitals technically comply while making the data hard to navigate.For self-pay patients, the published data — when accessible — sometimes shows substantial gaps between what insurers pay (post-discount) and what uninsured patients are charged (retail). The transparency rules expose this; bundled cash pricing avoids it entirely. The two approaches address different patient situations.
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.
How a typical patient pathway unfolds
Most patients arrive at Synergy having already seen one or more surgeons elsewhere. The pathway here is built around that reality: a careful second read of the existing imaging, a candid conversation about what is and is not warranted, and — when intervention does make sense — a procedure that is as small as the pathology allows.
The starting point is usually the free MRI review. You upload or mail your existing scan; Dr. McMillan reviews it personally and responds with a candid assessment. If the review suggests you are a candidate for the endoscopic approach, the next step is a $250 consultation (credited toward the procedure if you proceed) to discuss the specifics for your anatomy. If the review suggests you are not a candidate, the response tells you that directly and offers honest guidance about what might serve better.
For patients who decide to move forward, scheduling typically happens within two to three weeks depending on the calendar. The procedure itself is outpatient — most patients arrive in the morning, go home the same day, and are walking with a small dressing covering the incision. Routine follow-up visits over the recovery window are part of the procedure bundle, and the office coordinates with your local providers as needed. Out-of-town patients are accommodated as a routine matter; we see patients from across South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and beyond.
Why transparency matters for patient decision-making
When the cost isn’t clear, patients can’t make informed decisions. They can’t compare options. They can’t plan financially. They can’t tell whether they’re being treated fairly or marked up substantially.Transparent pricing puts the patient in a position to actually decide. Knowing the cost is one input among many — but it’s a necessary input. Hiding it (or quoting it in misleading ways) undermines the patient’s role in their own care.
Bottom line
Transparent pricing means specific published prices, clear scope of what's included, and explicit disclosure of any items that aren't. Many practices use the language without delivering the substance. The CMS Hospital Price Transparency Rule provides a baseline; bundled cash pricing delivers more clarity for self-pay patients.
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 transparent spine surgery pricing, 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 transparent spine surgery pricing
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 transparent spine surgery pricing specifically, the practical implication is that the price you see at the point of endoscopic discectomy 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 what’s included in bundled pricing 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
How is transparent pricing different from 'starting at' pricing?
‘Starting at’ often means ‘we’ll bill you something starting from this floor but often substantially more.’ Transparent pricing is a specific number that applies to defined procedures. 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.
Will my procedure cost more than the bundle price?
For standard cases, no — the bundle is the price. Complex cases are priced individually before scheduling. For broader context on how Synergy’s approach compares with traditional pricing, the what’s included in bundled pricing page provides additional comparison.
What's not in the bundle?
Pre-op labs, pathology if applicable, additional imaging beyond what you bring, prescriptions. The office identifies any expected additional costs in advance. 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.
Why don't all practices publish prices?
Business reasons varying by practice. The information asymmetry generally benefits the provider, not the patient. Bundled pricing represents a deliberate choice to align with patient interests. Detailed price information for the most relevant procedure is at the endoscopic discectomy page, where 2026 bundled rates are published openly.
How does this compare to hospital pricing?
Hospital pricing for the same procedures is generally several times higher in retail (uninsured) rates. The CMS transparency data document this when accessible. 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.
Can pricing change between scheduling and the procedure?
For Synergy’s bundled cash pricing — no. The price agreed at scheduling is the price. Detailed price information for the most relevant procedure is at the endoscopic discectomy page, where 2026 bundled rates are published openly.
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
- AHRQ — healthcare price transparency research. — source
- NASS — patient financial resources. — source
- CMS — Hospital Price Transparency — authoritative reference on transparent spine surgery pricing.
- CMS — No Surprises Act — authoritative reference on transparent spine surgery pricing.
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.