Each payment is the sum of Medicare payments for the DRG including DRG, Teaching, Disproportionate Share, Capital, and Outlier payments for all cases. Also included in Medicare Payments are co-payments and deductibles paid by patients.

The range of payments between the 25th percentile and the 75th percentile excludes the lowest 25 percent of payments and the highest 25 percent of payments. It is the range of payments for the most typical cases treated in the geographic area for the DRG. It excludes unusually low payments for cases such as those where a patient is transferred to another facility before receiving a full course of treatment. It also excludes unusually high payments for cases that are more complex and costly to treat than is typical for most cases in the DRG.

Replacement of hip, knee, or ankle or reattachment of thigh, foot or ankle (DRG 544) consists of the following procedures: replacement of total knee joint, replacement of total hip joint, replacement of knee joint, replacement of ankle, foot attachment, lower leg/ankle reattachment or thigh reattachment. In 2006, there were 442,933 cases reported. The national average payment for hip or knee replacements was $11,916 and the national average charge was $38,447.

Gallbladder removal by laparoscope with complications or preexisting conditions (DRG 493) is comprised of the removal of the gallbladder by laparoscope or the removal of part of the gallbladder by laparoscope. In 2006, 60,164 cases of gallbladder removal by laparoscope were reported. The national average payment was $11,151 while the national average charge was $36,349.

Insertion of heart defibrillator (DRG 515) includes the following procedures: insertion of conventional heart defibrillator, two heart chamber pacing with internal heart defibrillator, total system, insertion of defibrillator motor, and the insertion of defibrillator lead into left heart chamber.  57,618 cases of insertion of heart defibrillator procedures were reported in 2006.  The national average payment was $35,369 and the national average charge was $103,425.

Back and neck operations except back or neck fusion (DRG 500) consist of the following procedures: exploration and removing pressure from spine, removal of disc from back and neck, insertion of nerve stimulator lead into back, and removal of abnormal tissue from back. In 2006, 44,733 cases of back and neck operations were reported. The national average payment was $5,708 and the national average charge was $19,615.

Repair of previous hip, or  knee replacement (DRG 545) consists of the following procedures: revision of hip replacement or revision of knee replacement.  In 2006, there were 40,516 cases reported. The national average payment for repair of previous hip or knee replacements was $15,552 and the national average charge was $49.830.