Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comPalomar Medical Center Poway: what a joint replacement costs
Poway, CA 92064 · CMS Certification Number 050636. 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 Palomar Medical Center Poway
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $11,129 | $104,858 | 9.4× | $11,347 |
| Shoulder replacement | — | — | — | $15,780 |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $32,156 | 2.9× | $26,494–$37,818 | 2 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Net | $37,818 | 3.4× | 1 |
| Prospect | $26,494 | 2.4× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-04-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-04-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 4% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.9%. Overall Care Compare rating: 4 of 5 stars. Government · Acute · 236 beds
California has no certificate-of-need law.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Palomar Medical Center Poway for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Palomar Medical Center Poway for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $11,129 (MS-DRG 470, 16 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $11,347 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 133 cases).
What is Palomar Medical Center Poway's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $104,858, 9.4× 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 Palomar Medical Center Poway?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Poway Surgery Center, an orthopedic surgery center same ZIP away, is paid about $10,395 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $734 less than an inpatient stay at Palomar Medical Center Poway. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Palomar Medical Center Poway compare with other California hospitals?
Palomar Medical Center Poway's average total payment per Medicare stay is lower than 99% of the 119 California hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Palomar Medical Center Poway 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 $32,156 across 2 insurers, ranging from $26,494 to $37,818.