The cost of knee and hip replacement surgeries — among the fastest growing medical treatments in the U.S. — varies widely in markets across the country, with extreme variations emerging even within the same market area, according to a report by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and Blue Health Intelligence (BHI). The report, based on independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies’ claims data, shows that prices for identical procedures can quadruple in cost depending on which hospital a patient chooses within a market.
The study – Study of Cost Variations for Knee and Hip Replacement Surgeries in the U.S – shows the average typical cost (without complications) for a total knee replacement procedure was $31,124 in 64 markets where claims data was reviewed. However, it could cost as little as $11,317 in Montgomery, Alabama, and as much as $69,654 in New York, New York. Within a market, extreme cost variation can also exist. In Dallas, Texas, a total knee replacement could cost between $16,772 and $61,585 (267 percent cost variation) depending on the hospital.
Read more: Study of Cost Variations for Knee and Hip Replacement Surgeries in the U.S. BCBS The Health of America Report