Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comWilliam W Backus Hospital: what a joint replacement costs
Norwich, CT 06360 · CMS Certification Number 070024. 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 William W Backus Hospital
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $16,918 | $43,041 | 2.5× | $14,451 |
| Shoulder replacement | — | — | — | $20,737 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $19,185 | $64,488 | 3.4× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $28,487 | 1.7× | $25,400–$31,574 | 2 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $31,574 | 1.9× | 1 |
| Elevance/Anthem/Empire | $25,400 | 1.5× | 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: 5.8% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 6.7%. Overall Care Compare rating: 4 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 213 beds
Connecticut requires a certificate of need for new surgery centers.
Open the interactive price tagBuild a reportAll Connecticut hospitals
Questions
How much does Medicare pay William W Backus Hospital for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to William W Backus Hospital for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $16,918 (MS-DRG 470, 66 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $14,451 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 64 cases).
What is William W Backus Hospital's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $43,041, 2.5× 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 William W Backus Hospital?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. River Valley ASC, LLC, an orthopedic surgery center same ZIP away, is paid about $9,349 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $7,569 less than an inpatient stay at William W Backus Hospital. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does William W Backus Hospital compare with other Connecticut hospitals?
William W Backus Hospital's average total payment per Medicare stay is lower than 83% of the 12 Connecticut hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay William W Backus Hospital 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 $28,487 across 2 insurers, ranging from $25,400 to $31,574.