Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comNorth Carolina Specialty Hospital: what a joint replacement costs
Durham, NC 27704 · CMS Certification Number 340049. 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 North Carolina Specialty Hospital
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $12,492 | $42,319 | 3.4× | $11,671 |
| Shoulder replacement | $16,519 | $65,594 | 4.0× | $16,281 |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $21,860 | 1.7× | $21,221–$22,500 | 2 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $22,500 | 1.8× | 1 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $21,221 | 1.7× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-02-25); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-02-25); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 4.1% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.6%. For-profit · Acute · 24 beds
North Carolina requires a certificate of need for new surgery centers.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay North Carolina Specialty Hospital for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to North Carolina Specialty Hospital for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $12,492 (MS-DRG 470, 40 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $11,671 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 415 cases).
What is North Carolina Specialty Hospital's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $42,319, 3.4× 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 North Carolina Specialty Hospital?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. James E Davis Ambulatory Surg, an orthopedic surgery center same ZIP away, is paid about $8,842 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $3,650 less than an inpatient stay at North Carolina Specialty Hospital. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does North Carolina Specialty Hospital compare with other North Carolina hospitals?
North Carolina Specialty Hospital's average total payment per Medicare stay is lower than 98% of the 41 North Carolina hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay North Carolina Specialty 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 $21,860 across 2 insurers, ranging from $21,221 to $22,500.