Meniscus Surgery Cost in Arkansas (2026)

Hospital charges for meniscus surgery in Arkansas vary widely based on facility type, geographic competition, and payer mix.

For meniscus surgery in Arkansas, the choice of facility can mean thousands of dollars in price difference. Teaching hospitals and major health systems typically maintain higher chargemaster rates, while community hospitals and outpatient centers may offer competitive self-pay pricing.

Based on data from 34 hospitals in Arkansas, meniscus surgery prices range from $1,253 to $24,134 — a 19.3x difference. This wide variation underscores why comparing prices before scheduling is critical for controlling your out-of-pocket costs.

The setting where meniscus surgery is performed in Arkansas significantly impacts total cost. Hospital inpatient stays are the most expensive, followed by hospital outpatient departments, then ambulatory surgery centers.

For patients who are medically appropriate for outpatient surgery, ASCs offer a compelling combination of lower cost and shorter wait times. Many are physician-owned and focus exclusively on surgical care.

Discuss options with your surgeon and, if you're self-pay, ask about pricing at each available setting before scheduling.

Self-pay patients in Arkansas often have access to significantly discounted rates for meniscus surgery. Under federal price transparency rules (45 CFR § 180.50), hospitals must publish their discounted cash prices alongside standard charges.

In Arkansas, the average cash price for meniscus surgery is $7,391, which is 48% lower than the average list price of $14,164. This discount is typical of what self-pay patients can expect when asking for the hospital's uninsured rate.

For insured patients, the negotiated rate between your plan and the hospital determines your cost share. If you haven't met your deductible, you may pay more than the cash price. It's worth asking the hospital whether their self-pay rate is lower than what your insurance would charge — some patients save money by not filing a claim.