CPT
23472 — Arthroplasty, glenohumeral joint; total shoulder
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
Surgery & procedures
27447 — Total knee replacement (arthroplasty)
Total knee replacement surgery. One of the most-billed Medicare procedures, with significant pricing variance.
- Typical setting: Hospital inpatient or ambulatory surgical center
- National avg charge (illustrative): Total bill (facility + surgeon + anesthesia + implant): $30,000-$70,000.
- Most-disputed reason: Out-of-network anesthesiologist or surgical assistant despite in-network facility.
What it means
What 27447 actually means
CPT 27447 is total knee arthroplasty (TKA), one of the highest-volume joint replacements in U.S. healthcare. The bill typically includes a facility component, surgeon component, anesthesia, implant cost, PT, and follow-up.
The most common dispute on knee replacement bills isn't the surgeon — it's a surprise out-of-network anesthesiologist or surgical assistant who wasn't your choice. The No Surprises Act protects against this in most cases.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Out-of-network anesthesiologist balance billing despite in-network facility (NSA violation).
- Implant cost marked up several multiples of wholesale.
- Bilateral procedure billed twice instead of once with -50 modifier (50% reduction).
- Facility fee billed both as inpatient and outpatient charges.
If you see 27447 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 27447 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
27130 — Total hip replacement (arthroplasty)
Same scrutiny as knee replacement — verify all providers in-network.
CPT
27486 — Revision of total knee arthroplasty, one component
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
CPT
29881 — Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with meniscectomy
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
CPT
29888 — Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with ACL repair/augmentation or reconstruction
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 27447 on a bill.
27447 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
Should I get a Good Faith Estimate before knee replacement?
If self-pay, yes — federal law requires the provider to give you a GFE for scheduled non-emergent procedures. If the final bill is $400+ above the GFE, you can dispute via the CMS patient-provider dispute process.
Don't pay 27447 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.