Surgery sticker shock: A Charlotte-area woman’s hip replacement story

Stephanie Campbell required a hip replacement after a fall but faced a $125,000 self-pay cost at Piedmont Medical Center, far exceeding regional averages. The Campbells, without insurance due to Joe Campbell’s pastoral role, discovered significant price disparities between providers, with other hospitals offering similar procedures at lower costs with discounts. Experts highlighted the lack of price regulation in U.S. healthcare, contributing to unpredictable expenses for self-pay patients.