Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comNorthwestern Lake Forest Hospital: what a joint replacement costs
Lake Forest, IL 60045 · CMS Certification Number 140130. 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 Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $15,525 | $136,692 | 8.8× | $12,402 |
| Shoulder replacement | — | — | — | — |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $17,821 | $144,057 | 8.1× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $22,908 | 1.5× | — | 1 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCBS IL | $22,908 | 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: 3.2% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 6.2%. Overall Care Compare rating: 5 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 222 beds
Illinois requires a certificate of need for new surgery centers.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $15,525 (MS-DRG 470, 32 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $12,402 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 176 cases).
What is Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $136,692, 8.8× 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 Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Hawthorn Surgery Center, an orthopedic surgery center 4.8 mi away, is paid about $8,988 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $6,537 less than an inpatient stay at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital compare with other Illinois hospitals?
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 60% of the 45 Illinois hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Northwestern Lake Forest 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 $22,908 across 1 insurer.