Lumbar radiofrequency ablation cost in California

In California, 104 hospitals publish a cash price for radiofrequency ablation of facet joint nerves, lower back, one level: from $715.00 to $13,000.00, with a median of $4,751.00. The lowest price is at County of Monterey (Salinas). The highest price is 18.2× the lowest.

• The median here, $4,751.00, is 82% above the US median of $2,606.00.
• California ranks 43rd of 44 states by median, cheapest first.
• 29 of 104 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.

California law (Health and Safety Code §127405): if you are uninsured or have high medical costs and your family income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, a hospital may not expect you to pay more than it would expect from Medicare or Medi-Cal, whichever is greater. That can be less than the cash prices below; ask the hospital for its discount payment policy. A separate physician fee may still apply. Other states' laws.

Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 64635. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 3, 2026. See them on a map