How much does Total Knee Replacement cost at Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center?

Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center lists Total Knee Replacement (CPT 27447) at $5,134.00. The Medicare rate for this procedure is $1,159.35, making this a 4.4x markup. The national average charge for this procedure is approximately $20,658.

Does Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center offer financial assistance?

Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center is a nonprofit hospital and is required under IRS Section 501(r) to maintain a written financial assistance policy. Contact their billing department to request the Financial Assistance Policy (FAP) application. Eligibility typically covers patients up to 200–400% of the Federal Poverty Level, though thresholds vary by hospital.

Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center billing

Q: What is Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center's billing grade?

BillKarma gives Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center a billing grade of D. This grade is based on an average markup of 7.8x Medicare rates across 15 procedures in their CMS-published price transparency file. This is above the national average of approximately 3.4x Medicare.

3001 Sanford Parkway, Thief River Falls, Minnesota 56701

Voluntary non-profit - Private
Critical Access Hospitals

1. Call billing

Have your account number ready. Ask for an itemized bill and ask whether you can apply for financial assistance.

Main hospital line

(218) 683-4400

Ask for patient billing or patient financial services.

Call (218) 683-4400

2. See if you qualify for free or discounted care

As a nonprofit hospital, Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center must have a written financial assistance policy under IRS rule 501(r). You can usually apply up to 240 days after your first bill, even if it went to collections.

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3. Send it in writing

A written request creates a record. Fill in your details, then print, email or mail it to Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center billing.

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Cover letter for the hospital's application, with a request to pause collections.
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Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center in Thief River Falls, Minnesota receives a BillKarma billing grade of D based on an average markup of 7.8x Medicare rates across 15 procedures in their published price transparency file. This places it in the top 25 most expensive hospitals in Minnesota by markup ratio. The highest individual markups are for Wound Debridement (29.9x Medicare) and Diagnostic colonoscopy (13.6x Medicare). Patients with scheduled procedures at this hospital should review costs and compare nearby alternatives before confirming — charges at D and F grade hospitals are significantly above the national average.

Common procedure prices

Last updated: 2026-10-21

Code	Description	Hospital charge	Medicare pays	Markup	Your est. cost
11042	Wound Debridement	$1666.00	$55.78	29.9×	—
45378	Diagnostic colonoscopy	$2232.00	$164.67	13.6×	—
70551	Mri brain stem w/o dye	$2627.00	$195.40	13.4×	—
70553	Mri brain stem w/o & w/dye	$4119.00	$316.97	13.0×	—
20610	Joint Injection (drainage)	$511.00	$39.75	12.9×	—
71045	X-ray exam chest 1 view	$278.00	$25.38	11.0×	—
71046	X-ray exam chest 2 views	$310.00	$33.07	9.4×	—
49650	Lap ing hernia repair init	$2833.00	$424.19	6.7×	—
44970	Laparoscopy appendectomy	$3518.00	$578.17	6.1×	—
29881	Knee Arthroscopy	$2781.00	$515.71	5.4×	—
47562	Laparoscopic cholecystectomy	$3081.00	$631.95	4.9×	—
10060	Abscess Drainage	$460.00	$100.54	4.6×	—
59025	Fetal non-stress test	$230.00	$50.44	4.6×	—
27447	Total Knee Replacement	$5134.00	$1159.35	4.4×	—
49505	Prp i/hern init reduc >5 yr	$2083.00	$508.03	4.1×	—
27130	Total Hip Replacement	$2928.00	$1162.02	2.5×	—

Highlighted: charged at 5× or more what Medicare pays for the same code.

How to dispute a bill from Sanford Thief River Falls Medical Center

Last updated: 2026-10-21

SANFORD THIEF RIVER FALLS MEDICAL CENTER currently shows a billing grade of D with an average markup around 7.8x versus Medicare reference rates. In currently loaded benchmark samples, this is below the national average (8.0x). Use that benchmark when asking billing to review line items and justify large gaps. This hospital appears to be nonprofit. Ask for the formal financial assistance application, income thresholds, and deadline rules before making payment commitments. Reported charity-care level is not reported. Before paying, scan your bill with BillKarma to identify line-item issues and generate a dispute packet.

Location

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Nearby hospitals

Abbott Northwestern Hospital Minneapolis · Grade F
Avera Granite Falls Granite Falls · Grade F
Avera Marshall Regional Medical Ctr Marshall · Grade F
Abbott Northwestern – WestHealth Plymouth · Grade F
District One Hospital Faribault · Grade F

Prices at a glance

Billing grade: D
Typical price vs. Medicare: 7.8×
Procedures compared: 15
Rank in Minnesota: 19
Cash discount: None
Patient Experience: Not Reported

From the hospital's price transparency file, compared with 2026 Medicare rates. Last updated: 2026-10-21. How grades work

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