Patients’ Perceptions of the Costs of Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
With medical economics in the national sociopolitical spotlight, we conducted a study to assess patients’ understanding of the cost of 2 common orthopedic procedures: total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA, TKA). We surveyed 284 consecutive THA or TKA patients, at their first postoperative visit, regarding their understanding of reimbursement and cost.
On average, patients estimated surgeon reimbursement at $12,014. They estimated that the hospital was reimbursed $28,392 for their perioperative care and that it cost the hospital $24,389 to provide it. The cost of the implant used was estimated at $6447.
There is wide variation in patients’ estimates and understanding of health care costs. However, patients substantially overestimate reimbursement to the surgeon both in isolation and as a proportion of the total cost of the surgical procedure.
Despite these limitations, our study results demonstrated general public misconceptions about cost and reimbursement for common orthopedic procedures. Although more transparency in health care cost information may not immediately result in a more well-informed population,15 our patients, given the opportunity to develop an understanding of the economics of their own medical treatment, may become better prepared to make informed choices regarding changes in health care policy.
