Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comEssentia Health Fargo: what a joint replacement costs
Fargo, ND 58104 · CMS Certification Number 350070. 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 Essentia Health Fargo
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $15,693 | $47,462 | 3.0× | $12,236 |
| Shoulder replacement | — | — | — | $17,118 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $16,083 | $52,371 | 3.3× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $34,044 | 2.2× | $24,426–$35,730 | 4 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna | $35,730 | 2.3× | 1 |
| HealthPartners | $35,730 | 2.3× | 1 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $32,357 | 2.1× | 1 |
| Medica | $24,426 | 1.6× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-01-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-01-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 4.7% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.9%. Overall Care Compare rating: 3 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 142 beds
North Dakota has no certificate-of-need law.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Essentia Health Fargo for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Essentia Health Fargo for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $15,693 (MS-DRG 470, 14 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $12,236 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 248 cases).
What is Essentia Health Fargo's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $47,462, 3.0× 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 Essentia Health Fargo?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Cpm Surgery Center, an orthopedic surgery center same ZIP away, is paid about $8,416 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $7,277 less than an inpatient stay at Essentia Health Fargo. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Essentia Health Fargo compare with other North Dakota hospitals?
Essentia Health Fargo's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 67% of the 3 North Dakota hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Essentia Health Fargo 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 $34,044 across 4 insurers, ranging from $24,426 to $35,730.