Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comWhat the whole vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) costs
Global obstetric care for a vaginal delivery after a prior cesarean (59610); 59612 delivery only. Every bill that usually comes with it, who sends it, and where each number comes from.
Price it for your ZIP, hospital or insurerRates by insurer
Medicare, national amounts, 2026
| Bill | Hospital stay |
|---|---|
| Facility | $4,906 |
| Surgeon | $2,331 |
| Anesthesia | $191 |
| Before surgery (typical) | $209 |
| Total | $7,636 |
National Medicare amounts (payment-area and wage adjustments at 1.0). Facility: OPPS Addendum B, July 2026 (national unadjusted rate); local = rate × (0.6 × wage index + 0.4); ASC Addendum AA, July 2026 (national rate); local = rate × (0.5 × wage index + 0.5); device-intensive (J8) codes keep the device portion unadjusted; FY 2026 IPPS final rule CMS-1833-F, Table 5; standard amounts from Tables 1A-1E; local = weight × (labor × wage index + non-labor + capital × wage index^0.6848). Leaves out teaching (IME), safety-net (DSH) and outlier add-ons. Surgeon: CMS Physician Fee Schedule CY2026 (RVU26D). Anesthesia: CMS base units × the CY2026 anesthesia conversion factor, with an assumed case time. An educational estimate, not a quote.
Line by line (hospital stay)
- Hospital stay, MS-DRG 807: $4,906. Billed by The hospital. CMS FY2026 IPPS: MS-DRG 807 weight 0.6742; FY 2026 IPPS final rule CMS-1833-F, Table 5; standard amounts from Tables 1A-1E; local = weight × (labor × wage index + non-labor + capital × wage index^0.6848). Leaves out teaching (IME), safety-net (DSH) and outlier add-ons.
- Surgeon, CPT 59610: $2,331. Billed by The surgeon's group. CMS Physician Fee Schedule CY2026 (RVU26D, Oct 2026 release), facility rate, PFS locality national (GPCI 1.0)
- Anesthesia, ASA code 01967: $191. Billed by The anesthesia group. CMS anesthesia base units (CY2022 file, unchanged for CY2026) + CY2026 anesthesia conversion factor $20.49754 for the nation (ANES2026, RVU26D). Code mapping is ours, from the ASA code descriptors.
- Consultation visit (new patient): $177. Billed by The surgeon's group. CMS PFS CY2026 (RVU26D), non-facility (office) rate, CPT 99204
- Blood count (CBC): $8. Billed by The lab. CMS Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule CY2026 Q4 (26CLABQ4), national limit
- Basic metabolic panel: $8. Billed by The lab. CMS Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule CY2026 Q4 (26CLABQ4), national limit
- Pre-op ECG: $15. Billed by Office or hospital. CMS PFS CY2026 (RVU26D), non-facility (office) rate, CPT 93000
Questions
How much does a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) cost in total, with every bill?
At national Medicare rates for 2026, the whole vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) comes to about $7,636 in a hospital stay, counting the facility, the surgeon, anesthesia and typical care before and after. Commercial plans usually pay more; local rates differ by area.
Why do I get separate bills for a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC)?
The hospital bills for the facility; the surgeon's group bills for the operation (Surgeon, CPT 59610, about $2,331 from Medicare nationally); the anesthesia group bills by base units plus time (about $191 at our default time); labs, imaging, pathology and therapy each come from their own provider.
What does the surgeon's fee include?
Maternity global: prenatal visits, the delivery and postpartum care are one fee.