Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comMedstar Washington Hospital Center: what a joint replacement costs
Washington, DC 20010 · CMS Certification Number 090011. 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 Medstar Washington Hospital Center
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $21,259 | $116,619 | 5.5× | $13,444 |
| Shoulder replacement | — | — | — | $19,023 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $22,856 | $116,593 | 5.1× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $40,615 | 1.9× | $19,173–$52,912 | 7 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $52,912 | 2.5× | 1 |
| Cigna | $52,495 | 2.5× | 1 |
| Mamsi | $48,886 | 2.3× | 1 |
| Kaiser Permanente | $40,615 | 1.9× | 1 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $35,192 | 1.7× | 1 |
| CareFirst BCBS | $31,867 | 1.5× | 1 |
| Health Care Service Corporation | $19,173 | 0.9× | 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: 3.7% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.5%. Overall Care Compare rating: 3 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 818 beds
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Medstar Washington Hospital Center for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Medstar Washington Hospital Center for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $21,259 (MS-DRG 470, 25 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $13,444 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 69 cases).
What is Medstar Washington Hospital Center's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $116,619, 5.5× 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 Medstar Washington Hospital Center?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Medstar Surgery Center at Lafayette Centre, an orthopedic surgery center 1.9 mi away, is paid about $9,158 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $12,101 less than an inpatient stay at Medstar Washington Hospital Center. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Medstar Washington Hospital Center compare with other District of Columbia hospitals?
Medstar Washington Hospital Center's average total payment per Medicare stay is lower than 50% of the 4 District of Columbia hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Medstar Washington Hospital 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 $40,615 across 7 insurers, ranging from $19,173 to $52,912.