Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comLehigh Valley Hospital: what a joint replacement costs
Allentown, PA 18103 · CMS Certification Number 390133. 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 Lehigh Valley Hospital
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $16,472 | $107,791 | 6.5× | $12,688 |
| Shoulder replacement | $22,561 | $167,662 | 7.4× | $18,135 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $20,680 | $139,469 | 6.7× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $36,163 | 2.2× | $16,469–$63,531 | 5 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna | $63,531 | 3.9× | 1 |
| Aetna | $40,469 | 2.5× | 1 |
| Highmark BCBS | $36,163 | 2.2× | 1 |
| EmblemHealth | $31,485 | 1.9× | 1 |
| HealthPartners | $16,469 | 1.0× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-07-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-07-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 3.8% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 7.2%. Overall Care Compare rating: 4 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 1190 beds
Pennsylvania has no certificate-of-need law.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Lehigh Valley Hospital for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Lehigh Valley Hospital for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $16,472 (MS-DRG 470, 186 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $12,688 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 1465 cases).
What is Lehigh Valley Hospital's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $107,791, 6.5× 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 Lehigh Valley Hospital?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Surgery Center of Allentown, an orthopedic surgery center 4.2 mi away, is paid about $8,802 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $7,670 less than an inpatient stay at Lehigh Valley Hospital. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Lehigh Valley Hospital compare with other Pennsylvania hospitals?
Lehigh Valley Hospital's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 77% of the 64 Pennsylvania hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Lehigh Valley 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 $36,163 across 5 insurers, ranging from $16,469 to $63,531.