Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comSt Vincent's Birmingham: what a joint replacement costs
Birmingham, AL 35205 · CMS Certification Number 010056. What Medicare pays this hospital for knee, hip and shoulder replacement, what it lists, how it compares, and what a surgery center nearby is paid.
Medicare prices at St Vincent's Birmingham
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $14,133 | $57,897 | 4.1× | $10,828 |
| Shoulder replacement | $16,848 | $57,899 | 3.4× | $15,464 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $13,833 | $61,003 | 4.4× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $22,688 | 1.6× | $13,862–$27,599 | 5 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humana | $27,599 | 2.0× | 1 |
| Prime Health Services (rental network) | $24,258 | 1.7× | 1 |
| Cigna | $23,772 | 1.7× | 1 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $22,688 | 1.6× | 1 |
| Aetna | $16,511 | 1.2× | 1 |
| Cooper Green | $13,862 | 1.0× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-04-20); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-04-20); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 4.4% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.3%. Overall Care Compare rating: 3 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 409 beds
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay St Vincent's Birmingham for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to St Vincent's Birmingham for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $14,133 (MS-DRG 470, 23 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $10,828 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 802 cases).
What is St Vincent's Birmingham's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $57,897, 4.1× the average total payment for a Medicare stay. Almost nobody pays the list price; it matters for uninsured bills and percent-of-charge contracts.
Is a knee replacement cheaper at a surgery center near St Vincent's Birmingham?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Uab St Vincent's Outpatient Surgery Services, LLC, an orthopedic surgery center same ZIP away, is paid about $8,106 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $6,027 less than an inpatient stay at St Vincent's Birmingham. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does St Vincent's Birmingham compare with other Alabama hospitals?
St Vincent's Birmingham's average total payment per Medicare stay is lower than 50% of the 24 Alabama hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay St Vincent's Birmingham for a hip or knee replacement?
From the hospital's own price-transparency file, commercial plans' negotiated rates for MS-DRG 470 have a median of $22,688 across 5 insurers, ranging from $13,862 to $27,599.