Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comMusc Medical Center: what a joint replacement costs
Charleston, SC 29425 · CMS Certification Number 420004. 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 Musc Medical Center
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $19,935 | $112,343 | 5.6× | $10,721 |
| Shoulder replacement | $27,604 | $152,417 | 5.5× | $15,776 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $23,554 | $91,548 | 3.9× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $43,346 | 2.2× | $26,391–$60,301 | 2 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $60,301 | 3.0× | 1 |
| BCBS South Carolina | $26,391 | 1.3× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-04-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-04-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 5.4% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 6.2%. Overall Care Compare rating: 2 of 5 stars. Government · Acute · 713 beds
South Carolina has a certificate-of-need program that does not cover surgery centers.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Musc Medical Center for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Musc Medical Center for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $19,935 (MS-DRG 470, 24 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $10,721 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 388 cases).
What is Musc Medical Center's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $112,343, 5.6× 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 Musc Medical Center?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. The Southeastern Spine Institute ASC, LLC, an orthopedic surgery center 5.8 mi away, is paid about $8,539 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $11,396 less than an inpatient stay at Musc Medical Center. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Musc Medical Center compare with other South Carolina hospitals?
Musc Medical Center's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 100% of the 19 South Carolina hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Musc Medical Center 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 $43,346 across 2 insurers, ranging from $26,391 to $60,301.