Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comTucson Medical Center: what a joint replacement costs
Tucson, AZ 85712 · CMS Certification Number 030006. 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 Tucson Medical Center
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $15,235 | $44,196 | 2.9× | $12,655 |
| Shoulder replacement | $20,261 | $74,849 | 3.7× | $18,131 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $17,765 | $52,960 | 3.0× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $28,484 | 1.9× | $25,901–$34,076 | 4 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCBS AZ | $34,076 | 2.2× | 1 |
| Aetna | $30,847 | 2.0× | 1 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $26,122 | 1.7× | 1 |
| Cigna | $25,901 | 1.7× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-04-30); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-04-30); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 4.2% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.3%. Overall Care Compare rating: 2 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 596 beds
Arizona has a certificate-of-need program that does not cover surgery centers.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Tucson Medical Center for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Tucson Medical Center for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $15,235 (MS-DRG 470, 72 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $12,655 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 490 cases).
What is Tucson Medical Center's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $44,196, 2.9× 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 Tucson Medical Center?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Camp Lowell Surgery Center, LLC, an orthopedic surgery center same ZIP away, is paid about $8,393 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $6,842 less than an inpatient stay at Tucson Medical Center. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Tucson Medical Center compare with other Arizona hospitals?
Tucson Medical Center's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 69% of the 29 Arizona hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Tucson Medical Center 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 $28,484 across 4 insurers, ranging from $25,901 to $34,076.