Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comVirginia Mason Medical Center: what a joint replacement costs
Seattle, WA 98101 · CMS Certification Number 500005. 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 Virginia Mason Medical Center
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $19,806 | $65,009 | 3.3× | $12,872 |
| Shoulder replacement | $27,742 | $92,221 | 3.3× | $18,234 |
| Hip replacement after a fracture (DRG 522) | $23,451 | $82,122 | 3.5× | — |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $43,884 | 2.2× | $35,623–$47,945 | 6 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna | $47,945 | 2.4× | 1 |
| Aetna | $47,779 | 2.4× | 1 |
| Premera Blue Cross | $44,096 | 2.2× | 1 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $43,672 | 2.2× | 1 |
| Kaiser Permanente | $37,152 | 1.9× | 1 |
| Regence BlueShield | $35,623 | 1.8× | 1 |
| Coventry - First Health (rental network) | $32,986 | 1.7× | 1 |
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-01-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
From the hospital's price-transparency file (2026-01-01); commercial plans, dollar-amount contracts only.
Quality
Complications after hip or knee replacement: 3.5% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 4.8%. Overall Care Compare rating: 5 of 5 stars. Nonprofit · Acute · 336 beds
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Virginia Mason Medical Center for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Virginia Mason Medical Center for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $19,806 (MS-DRG 470, 51 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $12,872 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 201 cases).
What is Virginia Mason Medical Center's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $65,009, 3.3× 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 Virginia Mason Medical Center?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Seattle Surgery Center, an orthopedic surgery center 0.7 mi away, is paid about $9,864 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $9,942 less than an inpatient stay at Virginia Mason Medical Center. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Virginia Mason Medical Center compare with other Washington hospitals?
Virginia Mason Medical Center's average total payment per Medicare stay is higher than 96% of the 26 Washington hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Virginia Mason 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 $43,884 across 6 insurers, ranging from $35,623 to $47,945.