Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comSt Luke's Hospital Bethlehem: what a joint replacement costs
Bethlehem, PA 18015 · CMS Certification Number 390049. 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 St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $18,710 | $128,396 | 6.9× | $12,473 |
| Shoulder replacement | $25,761 | $191,372 | 7.4× | $17,718 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $20,675 | $176,855 | 8.6× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $29,202 | 1.6× | $23,255–$43,357 | 5 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Blue Cross | $43,357 | 2.3× | 1 |
| Aetna | $31,838 | 1.7× | 1 |
| Cigna | $29,202 | 1.6× | 1 |
| Independence Blue Cross | $27,220 | 1.5× | 1 |
| Highmark BCBS | $23,255 | 1.2× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-02-26); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-02-26); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 3.2% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 6.4%. Overall Care Compare rating: 5 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 817 beds
Pennsylvania has no certificate-of-need law.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $18,710 (MS-DRG 470, 81 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $12,473 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 372 cases).
What is St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $128,396, 6.9× 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 St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Center for Specialized Surgery, the, an orthopedic surgery center 6.2 mi away, is paid about $8,802 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $9,908 less than an inpatient stay at St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem compare with other Pennsylvania hospitals?
St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 91% of the 64 Pennsylvania hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay St Luke's Hospital Bethlehem 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 $29,202 across 5 insurers, ranging from $23,255 to $43,357.