Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comBuffalo Hospital: what a joint replacement costs
Buffalo, MN 55313 · CMS Certification Number 240076. 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 Buffalo Hospital
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $17,905 | $48,035 | 2.7× | $12,562 |
| Shoulder replacement | — | — | — | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $32,683 | 1.8× | $25,448–$44,218 | 3 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $44,218 | 2.5× | 1 |
| HealthPartners | $32,683 | 1.8× | 1 |
| Medica | $25,448 | 1.4× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-06-16); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-06-16); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 4.2% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.9%. Overall Care Compare rating: 5 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 65 beds
Minnesota has a certificate-of-need program that does not cover surgery centers.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Buffalo Hospital for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Buffalo Hospital for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $17,905 (MS-DRG 470, 32 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $12,562 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 47 cases).
What is Buffalo Hospital's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $48,035, 2.7× 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 Buffalo Hospital?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. North Memorial Ambulatory Surgery Center at Maple Grove LLC, an orthopedic surgery center 19.7 mi away, is paid about $9,341 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $8,564 less than an inpatient stay at Buffalo Hospital. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Buffalo Hospital compare with other Minnesota hospitals?
Buffalo Hospital's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 85% of the 20 Minnesota hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Buffalo 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 $32,683 across 3 insurers, ranging from $25,448 to $44,218.