Price AtlasInteractive atlas · All states · techysurgeon.comAspirus Wausau Hospital: what a joint replacement costs
Wausau, WI 54401 · CMS Certification Number 520030. 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 Aspirus Wausau Hospital
| Operation | Inpatient avg total payment Medicare + patient share | List price | List ÷ total | Outpatient Medicare allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $13,527 | $53,526 | 4.0× | $11,446 |
| Shoulder replacement | — | — | — | $16,367 |
Commercial negotiated rates (beta)
| MS-DRG 470 | Median across insurers | × Medicare total payment | Lowest–highest insurer | Insurers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement | $40,568 | 3.0× | $26,723–$49,957 | 6 |
| Insurer | Median negotiated, MS-DRG 470 | × Medicare total payment | Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elevance/Anthem/Empire | $49,957 | 3.7× | 1 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $44,072 | 3.3× | 1 |
| The Alliance (F/K/A Employer Health Care Alliance Cooperativ | $41,015 | 3.0× | 1 |
| Security Health Plan Of Wisconsin | $40,121 | 3.0× | 1 |
| Aspirus Health Plan | $28,162 | 2.1× | 1 |
| WPS Health Plan | $26,723 | 2.0× | 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% (no different from the national rate). Readmissions: 5.7%. Overall Care Compare rating: 4 of 5 stars. For-profit · Acute · 321 beds
Wisconsin has a certificate-of-need program that does not cover surgery centers.
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Questions
How much does Medicare pay Aspirus Wausau Hospital for a knee or hip replacement?
In 2024 the average total payment to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for an inpatient hip or knee replacement stay was $13,527 (MS-DRG 470, 33 Medicare stays; Medicare's payment plus the patient's deductible and coinsurance), and the Medicare allowed amount averaged $11,446 per outpatient case (APC 5115, 193 cases).
What is Aspirus Wausau Hospital's list price for a joint replacement?
The hospital's average list (chargemaster) price for an inpatient hip or knee replacement was $53,526, 4.0× 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 Aspirus Wausau Hospital?
Yes for Medicare facility payments. Wausau Surgery Center, an orthopedic surgery center same ZIP away, is paid about $8,415 by Medicare for a knee replacement (CPT 27447), $5,112 less than an inpatient stay at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Not every patient is a surgery-center candidate.
How does Aspirus Wausau Hospital compare with other Wisconsin hospitals?
Aspirus Wausau Hospital's average total payment per Medicare stay is lower than 65% of the 20 Wisconsin hospitals that report inpatient hip or knee replacement.
What do commercial insurers pay Aspirus Wausau 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 $40,568 across 6 insurers, ranging from $26,723 to $49,957.