Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comUnc Hospitals: what a joint replacement costs
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 · CMS Certification Number 340061. 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 Unc Hospitals
| Operation | Inpatient paid | List price | List ÷ paid | Outpatient allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $23,765 | $57,990 | 2.4× | $11,386 |
| Shoulder replacement | $50,140 | $100,301 | 2.0× | $16,981 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $27,540 | $64,184 | 2.3× | — |
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 3.4% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 4.6%. Overall Care Compare rating: 5 of 5 stars. Government · Acute · 724 beds
North Carolina requires a certificate of need for new surgery centers.
Open the interactive price tagBuild a reportAll North Carolina hospitals
Questions
How much does Medicare pay Unc Hospitals for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 Medicare paid Unc Hospitals an average of $23,765 per inpatient hip or knee replacement stay (MS-DRG 470, 51 stays) and $11,386 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 101 cases).
What is Unc Hospitals's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $57,990, 2.4× what Medicare paid. 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 Unc Hospitals?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Southpoint Surgery Center, an orthopedic surgery center 8.7 mi away, is paid about $8,842 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $14,923 less than an inpatient stay at Unc Hospitals. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Unc Hospitals compare with other North Carolina hospitals?
Medicare paid Unc Hospitals more than 100% of the 41 North Carolina hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.