# Knee arthroscopy - torn cartilage trim: what AultCare pays, by state

Keyhole knee surgery to trim a torn meniscus (knee cartilage).

- Insurer: AultCare
- Billing code: 29881 (Surgery & procedures)
- Price shown: negotiated in-network price, surgery center / hospital outpatient, doctor's fee
- Prices as of: 2026-10-03
- All of the insurer's plans pooled; the map also shows single networks

| State | Providers | Lowest | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Highest | Medicare pays | Median vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio | 41 | $500.89 | $584.33 | $594.23 | $594.23 | $1,000.28 | $495.19 | 1.2x Medicare |

**“x Medicare”** compares each price with what original Medicare pays a doctor for the same service in the same state under its physician fee schedule (RVU26D, in force from 2026-10-01) — the lower price a doctor is paid when a hospital or surgery center provides the room and equipment. Insurers write their contracts as a share of Medicare, so 1.3x means the insurer pays 30% more than Medicare would; Medicare Advantage plans generally pay close to 1.0x.

Prices are what the insurer has agreed to pay, not what you will be billed. This is a statewide summary: prices vary far more between towns and between practices than these medians suggest, and "providers" counts everyone with a contracted price, not only those who perform the procedure.

Map: https://medicalpricetransparency.netlify.app/insurers/aultcare/statemap_29881_US.html  
About this insurer's data, and its other procedures: [index.md](index.md)