Hip and Knee Replacements: A Neglected Potential Savings Opportunity

An increasing number of individuals in the United States opt for elective joint replacements to maintain active lifestyles. Approximately 505 000 hip replacements and 723 000 knee replacements were performed in the United States in 2014, costing more than $20 billion.¹ In a country spending nearly 18% of its gross domestic product on health care with some poor population health outcomes, this is a significant source of potentially controllable spending.