If you think you’re in the market for a hip replacement, don’t worry, you’re not alone. It’s estimated that approximately 500,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed each year. That’s a lot of surgery and it represents a lot of expense, especially for the Medicare-insured population. 

There have been recent efforts to try to reign in those costs while also creating a better outcome for patients. First, it seems that Medicare has now proposed to pay for hip replacements that are performed in out-patient surgery settings, rather than only in the hospital. Lest you think this is a suspicious move, it turns out there’s a trend for older patients with joint replacements (such as knees and hips) to undertake their recovery at home, rather than in the hospital, especially if the surgery is elective and the patient suffers from no other serious conditions that could cause complications. As Kaiser Health News writer Judith Graham reports, “This trend is likely to accelerate as evidence mounts that recuperating at home is a safe alternative and as hospitals alter medical practices in response to changing Medicare policies.” Many patients and families prefer at-home recovery rather than in a facility. It seems that extended hospital stays and recovery in a rehab facility are now more likely only for those who are sicker, more debilitated or have few supports in the home setting.

There’s also been some investigation as to whether patients really require a total hip replacement (which includes replacing both the ball and joint socket) versus a partial hip replacement, which requires only replacing the ball of the hip joint. Newly published research in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that there is no difference in patient outcomes 2 years out between those with a partial versus those with a total hip replacement. While the appropriate surgery is an individual decision between the patient and physician, this does suggest an alternative that may be less invasive on patients and less expensive for insurers. To find out more, click here.

Of course, hip replacement surgery is a consequential decision, regardless of your situation. For a reminder of how to consider whether you need it, take a look at this prior agebuzz post. You may also want to learn more about the recovery process, so take out your pad and pen and jot down some tips from here. Finally, though every case is different, the trend with hip replacement seems to be that patients are encouraged to get up and move right away, and the recovery process may be quite mild, depending on your circumstances. For an example of a happy post-surgery camper, read about Weatherman Al Roker’s recent quick recovery from his hip replacement surgery. He was back on the air in less than 2 weeks post-surgery!