Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comBrigham and Women's Hospital: what a joint replacement costs
Boston, MA 02115 · CMS Certification Number 220110. 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 Brigham and Women's Hospital
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $23,665 | $85,392 | 3.6× | $13,866 |
| Shoulder replacement | $29,291 | $120,968 | 4.1× | $19,410 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $26,753 | $117,020 | 4.4× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $18,361 | 0.8× | $17,975–$18,747 | 2 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCBS Massachusetts | $18,747 | 0.8× | 1 |
| Commonwealth Care Alliance | $17,975 | 0.8× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-03-27); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-03-27); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 3.4% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.6%. Overall Care Compare rating: 5 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 663 beds
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Brigham and Women's Hospital for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Brigham and Women's Hospital for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $23,665 (MS-DRG 470, 167 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $13,866 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 194 cases).
What is Brigham and Women's Hospital's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $85,392, 3.6× 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 Brigham and Women's Hospital?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Shields Surgery Center, an orthopedic surgery center 5.9 mi away, is paid about $9,266 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $14,399 less than an inpatient stay at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Brigham and Women's Hospital compare with other Massachusetts hospitals?
Brigham and Women's Hospital's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 87% of the 39 Massachusetts hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Brigham and Women's 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 $18,361 across 2 insurers, ranging from $17,975 to $18,747.