Cost of a Knee Arthroscopy Visit
in Maryland
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Maryland's state-regulated hospital rate-setting system creates unique pricing transparency for medical procedures, including Knee Arthroscopy visits. Patients typically pay between $485 and $1,591 for a knee arthroscopy procedure, with a median cost of $559. Maryland has 3,923 active Knee Arthroscopy providers across the state, giving patients numerous options from Baltimore's medical centers to suburban practices throughout the region.
Average
$878
Median
$559
Lowest
$485
Highest
$1,591
Providers
3,923
7% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee arthroscopy compare to related procedures in Maryland?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,204 | $1,365 | $3,475 | 3,921 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $1,124 | $1,289 | $2,667 | 3,950 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $477 | $581 | $1,083 | 3,982 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $545 | $633 | $1,355 | 3,993 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $437 | $573 | $1,238 | 4,028 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $754 | $892 | $1,779 | 4,051 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $461 | $617 | $1,395 | 3,925 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $226 | $271 | $607 | 3,971 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $381 | $498 | $1,079 | 3,919 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $346 | $626 | $1,292 | 3,976 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $318 | $419 | $920 | 3,931 |
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.
Why Knee Arthroscopy Visit Costs Vary Across Maryland
Maryland's healthcare costs run approximately 13% above national averages, driven by the state's proximity to high-cost Washington DC metro area and Baltimore's concentration of academic medical centers. The state's unique hospital rate-setting authority creates more predictable pricing but doesn't eliminate significant cost variations between provider types.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Maryland's geography concentrates most orthopedic specialists in the Baltimore-Washington corridor, creating access challenges for residents of the Eastern Shore and western mountain counties. Urban areas offer multiple provider options but command premium pricing due to higher overhead costs and market demand. Rural patients often face longer travel distances but may find lower base rates at community hospitals.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient centers affiliated with Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, and MedStar Health systems typically charge higher facility fees than independent ambulatory surgery centers. Academic medical centers in Baltimore and Bethesda command premium rates due to their teaching hospital status and specialized equipment. Free-standing surgery centers often provide the most cost-effective option for routine arthroscopic procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in Maryland
CareFirst BCBS dominates Maryland's insurance market with over 50% market share, followed by UHC and Aetna providing moderate competition in most regions. Limited insurer competition in some rural areas reduces negotiating pressure on provider rates. The state insurance exchange offers additional plan options but with varying provider networks that can significantly impact out-of-pocket costs.
Physician Supply and Demand in Maryland
With 3,923 active Knee Arthroscopy providers, Maryland maintains adequate specialist availability relative to its population, though distribution favors urban corridors. The concentration of providers in Baltimore and Montgomery County creates competitive pricing pressure in these markets. Rural areas face longer wait times but often offer more personalized care relationships with local orthopedic practices.
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 Maryland
What is the average cost of a Knee Arthroscopy visit in Maryland without insurance?
Does Maryland Medicaid cover Knee Arthroscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Arthroscopy near me in Maryland?
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 Maryland?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Arthroscopy in Maryland?
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 |