Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comVanderbilt University Medical Center: what a joint replacement costs
Nashville, TN 37232 · CMS Certification Number 440039. 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 Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $19,231 | $95,194 | 5.0× | $6,948 |
| Shoulder replacement | $24,118 | $145,839 | 6.0× | $8,954 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $25,799 | $155,836 | 6.0× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $36,202 | 1.9× | $29,819–$53,550 | 10 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCBS TN | $53,550 | 2.8× | 1 |
| Oscar | $41,233 | 2.1× | 1 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $40,145 | 2.1× | 1 |
| Commonwealth Health | $36,202 | 1.9× | 1 |
| Hpi | $36,202 | 1.9× | 1 |
| Lucent | $36,202 | 1.9× | 1 |
| MedBen | $36,202 | 1.9× | 1 |
| Partner Direct Health | $36,202 | 1.9× | 1 |
| Aetna | $33,846 | 1.8× | 1 |
| MultiPlan/PHCS (rental network) | $30,763 | 1.6× | 1 |
| Cigna | $29,819 | 1.6× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2025-10-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2025-10-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 4.5% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 6.6%. Overall Care Compare rating: 5 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 1091 beds
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Vanderbilt University Medical Center for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $19,231 (MS-DRG 470, 64 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $6,948 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 316 cases).
What is Vanderbilt University Medical Center's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $95,194, 5.0× 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 Vanderbilt University Medical Center?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Saint Thomas Surgery Center Midtown, an orthopedic surgery center 1.0 mi away, is paid about $8,497 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $10,734 less than an inpatient stay at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Vanderbilt University Medical Center compare with other Tennessee hospitals?
Vanderbilt University Medical Center's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 100% of the 29 Tennessee hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Vanderbilt University 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 $36,202 across 10 insurers, ranging from $29,819 to $53,550.