Cost of a Knee Arthroscopy Visit
in Rhode Island
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Rhode Island's compact geography concentrates most orthopedic specialists within a 30-mile radius of Providence, creating a competitive market for Knee Arthroscopy procedures. Patients typically pay between $452 and $2,410 for arthroscopic knee procedures, with a median cost of $895 based on negotiated insurance rates from 58 active providers across the state. You can browse all Knee Arthroscopy providers in Rhode Island to compare costs and find the best option for your specific needs.
Average
$1,253
Median
$895
Lowest
$452
Highest
$2,410
Providers
58
33% above national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does knee arthroscopy compare to related procedures in Rhode Island?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knee Replacement Total knee replacement (arthroplasty) | 27447 | $1,136 | $2,323 | $6,051 | 57 |
| Hip Replacement Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) | 27130 | $80 | $1,978 | $6,060 | 74 |
| Cataract Surgery Cataract extraction with intraocular lens insertion | 66984 | $448 | $960 | $2,135 | 58 |
| Gallbladder Removal (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | 47562 | $91 | $1,006 | $1,921 | 66 |
| Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic appendectomy | 44970 | $80 | $884 | $1,752 | 79 |
| Hysterectomy (Laparoscopic) Laparoscopic total hysterectomy | 58571 | $85 | $1,277 | $3,201 | 60 |
| Septoplasty Nasal septum repair | 30520 | $555 | $1,052 | $2,160 | 56 |
| Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy, primary or secondary | 42820 | $239 | $441 | $742 | 58 |
| Inguinal Hernia Repair Inguinal hernia repair | 49505 | $440 | $858 | $1,521 | 57 |
| Mastectomy Partial or simple mastectomy | 19301 | $509 | $1,087 | $2,642 | 61 |
| Carpal Tunnel Surgery Open carpal tunnel release | 64721 | $364 | $877 | $1,957 | 58 |
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 Rhode Island
Rhode Island's Knee Arthroscopy costs run approximately 13% above national averages, reflecting the state's higher cost of living and concentrated healthcare market. The Ocean State's small geographic footprint creates unique market dynamics where most orthopedic specialists compete within overlapping service areas.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Rhode Island's urban core around Providence-Warwick concentrates most orthopedic surgery centers, while rural areas like Washington County have limited options requiring travel to metro areas. This geographic concentration means rural patients often face higher indirect costs through travel and time off work. However, the state's small size keeps maximum travel distances under 45 minutes for most residents.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient departments at Lifespan (Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital) and Care New England typically charge higher facility fees than independent surgery centers. Academic medical centers carry additional overhead costs for teaching and research that get reflected in procedure pricing. Free-standing ambulatory surgery centers often offer the most cost-effective option for routine arthroscopic procedures.
Insurance Market Competition in Rhode Island
BCBS RI maintains the largest market share but faces significant competition from UnitedHealthcare and Tufts Health Plan, creating negotiated rate variations across insurers. The state's relatively small insured population means individual contracts with large physician groups can significantly impact market-wide pricing. Limited provider networks in some rural areas reduce insurer leverage in rate negotiations.
Physician Supply and Demand in Rhode Island
With 58 active Knee Arthroscopy providers serving approximately 1.1 million residents, Rhode Island maintains adequate specialist availability relative to national benchmarks. This healthy supply-to-demand ratio helps contain pricing pressures and keeps wait times reasonable for non-urgent procedures. However, subspecialists focusing on complex reconstructive procedures may command premium rates due to limited local competition.
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 Rhode Island
What is the average cost of a Knee Arthroscopy visit in Rhode Island without insurance?
Does Rhode Island Medicaid cover Knee Arthroscopy visits?
How do I find an affordable Knee Arthroscopy near me in Rhode Island?
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 Rhode Island?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Knee Arthroscopy in Rhode Island?
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 |