Cost of a Knee Arthroscopy Visit
in Louisiana
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Louisiana's healthcare market operates at roughly 1% above national pricing levels, with Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana dominating insurer negotiations alongside UHC and Aetna. Patients seeking Knee Arthroscopy procedures typically pay between $394 and $1,089, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $594, based on negotiated rates from 867 active providers across the state. Louisiana maintains a robust network of Knee Arthroscopy specialists serving both urban centers like New Orleans and rural parishes throughout the region.
Average
$693
Median
$594
Lowest
$394
Highest
$1,089
Providers
867
26% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee arthroscopy compare to related procedures in Louisiana?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $989 | $1,619 | $2,664 | 863 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $960 | $1,557 | $2,505 | 877 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $226 | $617 | $1,345 | 916 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $473 | $822 | $1,416 | 895 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $368 | $694 | $1,236 | 947 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $997 | $1,658 | 904 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $399 | $637 | $1,133 | 864 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $189 | $346 | $530 | 904 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $383 | $608 | $1,052 | 861 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $331 | $636 | $1,229 | 905 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $294 | $504 | $979 | 865 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 29881 — Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 29881 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 29881 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 29881 covers: the provider's professional fee for knee arthroscopy. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Top-Rated Hospitals in Louisiana
These hospitals in Louisiana are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.
COLUMBIA, LA
COVINGTON, LA
LAFAYETTE, LA
ALEXANDRIA, LA
BATON ROUGE, LA
Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.
Why Knee Arthroscopy Visit Costs Vary Across Louisiana
Louisiana's healthcare costs run approximately 1% above national averages, influenced by the state's mix of urban medical centers and rural parish healthcare challenges. The concentration of major medical facilities in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport creates geographic cost variations across the state's diverse regions.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Metropolitan areas like New Orleans and Baton Rouge offer multiple orthopedic surgery options with competitive pricing, while rural parishes may have limited specialists requiring longer travel distances. This geographic disparity affects both access and costs, with rural patients often paying travel expenses on top of higher procedure fees due to limited local competition.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Louisiana's major health systems including Ochsner Health and Our Lady of the Lake operate hospital-based outpatient surgery centers with higher overhead costs than independent ambulatory facilities. These academic and large health system facilities often charge premium rates but may offer more comprehensive services and advanced technology for complex knee procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in Louisiana
Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana maintains significant market dominance alongside UHC and Aetna, creating moderate insurer competition that influences negotiated rates with orthopedic providers. This concentrated market structure means fewer insurance options compared to larger states, potentially affecting the range of negotiated rates available to consumers.
Physician Supply and Demand in Louisiana
With 867 active providers offering knee arthroscopy services, Louisiana maintains adequate specialist availability relative to its population size. This reasonable supply-demand balance helps moderate pricing pressures, though geographic concentration in urban areas can create access challenges for rural residents seeking timely orthopedic care.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Knee Arthroscopy Costs in Louisiana
What is the average cost of a Knee Arthroscopy visit in Louisiana without insurance?
Does Louisiana Medicaid cover Knee Arthroscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Arthroscopy near me in Louisiana?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Knee Arthroscopy visit in Louisiana?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Arthroscopy in Louisiana?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 29881)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Range: $80 – $8,767 | $2,976 |
| 2 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $4,236 | $1,989 |
| 3 | Idaho Range: $80 – $4,173 | $1,697 |
| 4 | Rhode Island Range: $452 – $2,410 | $1,253 |
| 5 | Massachusetts Range: $438 – $2,410 | $1,247 |
| 6 | Minnesota Range: $338 – $2,258 | $1,163 |
| 7 | Connecticut Range: $366 – $2,410 | $1,161 |
| 8 | Delaware Range: $412 – $2,410 | $1,154 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania Range: $366 – $2,410 | $1,133 |
| 10 | Wyoming Range: $648 – $1,845 | $1,133 |
| 11 | New York Range: $384 – $2,410 | $1,111 |
| 12 | Georgia Range: $450 – $2,024 | $1,109 |
| 13 | Iowa Range: $452 – $1,680 | $1,102 |
| 14 | New Hampshire Range: $573 – $1,631 | $1,073 |
| 15 | Nebraska Range: $655 – $1,294 | $1,041 |
| 16 | West Virginia Range: $482 – $1,901 | $1,025 |
| 17 | South Dakota Range: $387 – $1,811 | $991 |
| 18 | District of Columbia Range: $443 – $1,591 | $987 |
| 19 | New Jersey Range: $412 – $1,845 | $945 |
| 20 | Maine Range: $634 – $1,087 | $925 |
| 21 | North Carolina Range: $450 – $1,504 | $916 |
| 22 | North Dakota Range: $331 – $1,591 | $891 |
| 23 | Illinois Range: $90 – $1,895 | $880 |
| 24 | Maryland Range: $485 – $1,591 | $878 |
| 25 | New Mexico Range: $487 – $1,281 | $869 |
| 26 | Colorado Range: $452 – $1,326 | $861 |
| 27 | Utah Range: $80 – $1,294 | $844 |
| 28 | Kentucky Range: $394 – $1,419 | $843 |
| 29 | Michigan Range: $452 – $1,294 | $833 |
| 30 | Oregon Range: $80 – $1,591 | $811 |
| 31 | Indiana Range: $90 – $1,642 | $798 |
| 32 | Vermont Range: $410 – $1,326 | $788 |
| 33 | Washington Range: $80 – $1,475 | $773 |
| 34 | Texas Range: $421 – $1,250 | $765 |
| 35 | South Carolina Range: $422 – $1,266 | $765 |
| 36 | Mississippi Range: $424 – $1,330 | $761 |
| 37 | Arkansas Range: $479 – $1,034 | $755 |
| 38 | Tennessee Range: $466 – $1,057 | $738 |
| 39 | Alabama Range: $382 – $1,165 | $722 |
| 40 | Missouri Range: $507 – $892 | $720 |
| 41 | Virginia Range: $389 – $1,182 | $719 |
| 42 | Nevada Range: $452 – $1,051 | $717 |
| 43 | Hawaii Range: $80 – $1,287 | $706 |
| 44 | Louisiana Range: $394 – $1,089 | $693 |
| 45 | Oklahoma Range: $442 – $1,009 | $671 |
| 46 | Kansas Range: $507 – $860 | $668 |
| 47 | Ohio Range: $338 – $983 | $635 |
| 48 | Arizona Range: $452 – $907 | $604 |
| 49 | Alaska Range: $80 – $1,127 | $429 |
| 50 | Montana Range: $80 – $985 | $382 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $980 | $357 |