Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comLowell General Hospital: what a joint replacement costs
Lowell, MA 01854 · CMS Certification Number 220063. 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 Lowell General Hospital
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $17,566 | $32,973 | 1.9× | $13,959 |
| Shoulder replacement | — | — | — | $19,966 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $18,834 | $38,756 | 2.1× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $17,634 | 1.0× | $11,926–$29,420 | 11 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna | $29,420 | 1.7× | 1 |
| Fallon Health | $27,509 | 1.6× | 1 |
| Fallon Health Connectorcare | $27,509 | 1.6× | 1 |
| Elevance/Anthem/Empire | $24,055 | 1.4× | 1 |
| BCBS Massachusetts | $20,648 | 1.2× | 1 |
| Commonwealth Care Alliance | $17,634 | 1.0× | 1 |
| Wellsense Clarity Connectorcare | $15,504 | 0.9× | 1 |
| Tufts Health Public Plan | $11,956 | 0.7× | 1 |
| Middlesex County | $11,926 | 0.7× | 1 |
| Suffolk County | $11,926 | 0.7× | 1 |
| Tewksbury Hospital | $11,926 | 0.7× | 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: 3.6% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.5%. Overall Care Compare rating: 2 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 158 beds
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Lowell General Hospital for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Lowell General Hospital for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $17,566 (MS-DRG 470, 20 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $13,959 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 247 cases).
What is Lowell General Hospital's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $32,973, 1.9× 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 Lowell General Hospital?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. The Surgery Center of Greater Nashua, an orthopedic surgery center 8.4 mi away, is paid about $8,860 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $8,706 less than an inpatient stay at Lowell General Hospital. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Lowell General Hospital compare with other Massachusetts hospitals?
Lowell General Hospital's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 56% of the 39 Massachusetts hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Lowell General 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 $17,634 across 11 insurers, ranging from $11,926 to $29,420.