Surgery and procedures CPT 29881 California Outpatient

Knee arthroscopy cost in California

In California, 62 hospitals publish a cash price for knee arthroscopy with meniscus trim: from $856.80 to $26,211.60, with a median of $5,148.00. The lowest price is at Healdsburg Hospital (Healdsburg). The highest price is 30.6× the lowest.

  • The median here, $5,148.00, is 9% below the US median of $5,632.27.
  • California ranks 17th of 39 states by median, cheapest first.
  • 4 of 62 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.

California law (Health and Safety Code §127405): if you are uninsured or have high medical costs and your family income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, a hospital may not expect you to pay more than it would expect from Medicare or Medi-Cal, whichever is greater. That can be less than the cash prices below; ask the hospital for its discount payment policy. A separate physician fee may still apply. Other states' laws.

Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 29881. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Nov 8, 2026. See them on a map

Lowest$856.80Healdsburg Hospital
Median$5,148.00half of hospitals charge less
Highest$26,211.60in California
Lowest saves$4,291.20vs the median

Hospitals in California, cheapest first

HospitalCash priceList priceFile date
Healdsburg Hospital lowest Healdsburg · Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA HC PR 29881 ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $856.80 $1,680.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Oroville Hospital Oroville · Chico, CA Removal of one knee cartilage using an endoscope $2,090.00 $4,179.00 —
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Scripps Green Hospital La Jolla · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Knee Meniscec Med or Lat $2,963.99 $11,855.97 Mar 30, 2026
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Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas Encinitas · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Knee Meniscec Med or Lat $2,963.99 $11,855.97 Mar 30, 2026
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Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla La Jolla · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Knee Meniscec Med or Lat $2,963.99 $11,855.97 Mar 30, 2026
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Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Knee Meniscec Med or Lat $2,963.99 $11,855.97 Mar 30, 2026
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Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA HC Knee Meniscec Med or Lat $2,963.99 $11,855.97 Mar 30, 2026
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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Outpatient Grouper - 4 $3,964.84 $6,099.75 Nov 26, 2025
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Centinela Hospital Medical Center Inglewood · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Knee arthroscopy/surgery - 29881 - OR36029881 $4,187.00 $12,500.00 Sep 1, 2026
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Chino Valley Medical Center Chino · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Knee Arthroscopy/Surgery - 29881 - OR36029881 $4,187.00 $14,650.00 Sep 1, 2026
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Desert Valley Hospital Victorville · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Knee arthroscopy/surgery - 29881 - OR36029881 $4,187.00 $4,184.85 Sep 1, 2026
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Garden Grove Hospital Medical Center Garden Grove · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Knee Arthroscopy/Surgery $4,187.00 $8,373.22 Sep 1, 2026
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La Palma Intercommunity Hospital La Palma · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Knee Arthroscopy/Surgery - 29881 - OR36029881 $4,187.00 $17,250.00 Sep 1, 2026
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Paradise Valley Hospital National City · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Knee arthroscopysurgery - 29881 - $4,187.00 $23,100.00 Sep 1, 2026
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San Dimas Community Hospital San Dimas · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Knee Arthroscopy/Surgery - 29881 - OR36029881 $4,187.00 $15,225.00 Sep 1, 2026
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Shasta Regional Medical Center Redding · Redding, CA Knee arthroscopy/surgery - 29881 - OR36029881 $4,187.00 $19,845.50 Sep 1, 2026
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Sherman Oaks Hospital Sherman Oaks · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Knee arthroscopy/surgery - 29881 - OR36029881 $4,187.00 $16,995.60 Sep 1, 2026
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West Anaheim Medical Center Anaheim · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Knee Arthroscopy/Surgery - 29881 - OR36029881 $4,187.00 $13,800.00 Sep 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Baldwin Park Baldwin Park · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Downey Downey · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fontana Fontana · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Moreno Valley Moreno Valley · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Orange County - Anaheim Anaheim · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Panorama City Panorama City · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Riverside Riverside · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Bay Harbor City · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - West LA Los Angeles · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Woodland Hills Woodland Hills · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Irvine Irvine · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Ontario Medical Center Campus Ontario · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $5,148.00 $9,900.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital & Rehab Center - Vallejo Vallejo · Vallejo, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Antioch Antioch · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont Fremont · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fresno Fresno · Fresno, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Manteca Manteca · Stockton-Lodi, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Modesto Modesto · Modesto, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/Richmond Oakland · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood City Redwood City · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Roseville Roseville · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Sacramento Sacramento · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Francisco San Francisco · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Jose San Jose · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Leandro San Leandro · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Rafael San Rafael · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Santa Clara Santa Clara · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Santa Rosa Santa Rosa · Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South Sacramento Sacramento · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco South San Francisco · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Vacaville Vacaville · Vallejo, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek Walnut Creek · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Richmond Campus Richmond · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ARTHRS KNE SURG W/MENISCECTOMY MED/LAT W/SHVG $7,324.80 $13,080.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Ridgecrest Regional Hospital one side Ridgecrest · Bakersfield-Delano, CA Knee arthroscopy/surgery $10,193.00 $19,232.08 Nov 6, 2026
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Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital Hollister · San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Removal of knee cartilage using an endoscope $10,346.00 $12,105.50 May 11, 2026
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NorthBay Medical Center one side Fairfield · Vallejo, CA Arthro Knee W Mnsc Md/Lt W/Shv $10,383.00 $10,383.00 Apr 1, 2026
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Shriners Childrens - Northern California one side Sacramento · Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA REMOVAL OF KNEE CARTILAGE USING AN ENDOSCOPE $10,746.97 $10,746.97 Mar 19, 2026
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UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Removal of one knee cartilage using an endoscope $17,055.23 $31,009.50 Apr 1, 2026
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Pacifica Hospital of the Valley Sun Valley · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Removal of one knee cartilage using an endoscope $18,342.00 $18,342.00 —
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MarinHealth Medical Center one side Greenbrae · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA REMOVAL OF KNEE CARTILAGE USING AN ENDOSCOPE $26,211.60 $43,686.00 Mar 26, 2026
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Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More

By metro area

Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.

Metro areaHospitalsLowestMedian
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 17 $3,964.84 $5,148.00
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 11 $7,324.80 $7,324.80
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA 10 $2,963.99 $3,575.50
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 6 $4,187.00 $5,148.00
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA 4 $7,324.80 $7,324.80
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 3 $7,324.80 $7,324.80
Vallejo, CA 3 $7,324.80 $7,324.80
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA 2 $856.80 $4,090.80
Bakersfield-Delano, CA 1 $10,193.00 $10,193.00
Chico, CA 1 $2,090.00 $2,090.00
Fresno, CA 1 $7,324.80 $7,324.80
Modesto, CA 1 $7,324.80 $7,324.80
Redding, CA 1 $4,187.00 $4,187.00
Stockton-Lodi, CA 1 $7,324.80 $7,324.80
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More

What knee arthroscopy is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Knee arthroscopy explained.

Knee arthroscopy with meniscus trim in other states

Median cash price across the state's hospitals.