Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comErlanger Health System: what a joint replacement costs
Chattanooga, TN 37403 · CMS Certification Number 440104. 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 Erlanger Health System
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $16,702 | $43,357 | 2.6× | $11,031 |
| Shoulder replacement | $21,213 | $66,677 | 3.1× | $15,526 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $18,807 | $63,840 | 3.4× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $19,357 | 1.2× | $17,837–$20,918 | 4 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $20,918 | 1.3× | 1 |
| BCBS TN | $20,802 | 1.2× | 1 |
| Humana | $17,912 | 1.1× | 1 |
| Cigna | $17,837 | 1.1× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-01-25); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-01-25); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 2.9% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 4%. Overall Care Compare rating: 4 of 5 stars. Government · Acute · 848 beds
Tennessee requires a certificate of need for new surgery centers.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Erlanger Health System for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Erlanger Health System for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $16,702 (MS-DRG 470, 138 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $11,031 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 359 cases).
What is Erlanger Health System's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $43,357, 2.6× 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 Erlanger Health System?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Riverfront Surgery Center, an orthopedic surgery center 1.2 mi away, is paid about $8,376 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $8,326 less than an inpatient stay at Erlanger Health System. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Erlanger Health System compare with other Tennessee hospitals?
Erlanger Health System's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 93% of the 29 Tennessee hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Erlanger Health System 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 $19,357 across 4 insurers, ranging from $17,837 to $20,918.