Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comWatauga Medical Center: what a joint replacement costs
Boone, NC 28607 · CMS Certification Number 340051. 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 Watauga Medical Center
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $17,509 | $54,819 | 3.1× | $12,163 |
| Shoulder replacement | $23,218 | $82,826 | 3.6× | $17,331 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $19,598 | $53,118 | 2.7× | — |
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 3.6% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.1%. Overall Care Compare rating: 3 of 5 stars. Government · Acute · 117 beds
North Carolina requires a certificate of need for new surgery centers.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Watauga Medical Center for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Watauga Medical Center for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $17,509 (MS-DRG 470, 46 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $12,163 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 247 cases).
What is Watauga Medical Center's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $54,819, 3.1× the average total payment for a Medicare stay. Almost nobody pays the list price; it matters for uninsured bills and percent-of-charge contracts.
How does Watauga Medical Center compare with other North Carolina hospitals?
Watauga Medical Center's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 88% of the 41 North Carolina hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.