Open Heart Surgery Cost in North Dakota (2026)
Modest savings vs. the US average · ND
What Drives Pricing Here
Three factors explain most of why open heart surgery costs what it does in North Dakota.
Regional Price Parity
North Dakota's cost-of-living index sits at 95.2 — meaningfully below the national benchmark (100). This directly scales facility and staffing overhead, which flow through to every procedure price.
Specialist Availability
Limited local facility options in North Dakota can reduce price competition. Consider quotes from neighboring states if the travel is feasible.
Vs. National Benchmark
At -4.8% below the national average ($150,000), North Dakota is a discount market. Often driven by lower overhead or less metro concentration — quality can still be excellent.
Open Heart Surgery in North Dakota: What to Know
North Dakota offers robust open-heart surgery options. Sanford Medical Center Fargo is a standout, recognized among the nation's 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Premier, Inc., and was the only hospital in ND, SD, or MN to earn this distinction in 2025. It was also the first in the state to offer robotic-assisted heart valve replacement. Essentia Health-Fargo was another pioneer, introducing Medtronic's Evolut FX TAVR system.
For potentially lower costs, consider discussing options with hospitals like Altru Health System in Grand Forks or Trinity Health in Minot, which was the first to offer the CardioHelp system. While open-heart surgery is hospital-based, if you require specialized care not available locally, North Dakota patients sometimes travel to major metropolitan areas outside the state. Verify current pricing directly with providers.
Estimated Cost Breakdown in North Dakota
You'll pay a bit less for open heart surgery in North Dakota compared to the national average. Here's how costs are distributed.
Hospital Stay
Per-night inpatient cost
Most significant cost
Surgeon Fee
Expertise and experience level
Implants & Supplies
Operating Room
OR and equipment time
Anesthesia
Anesthesiologist or CRNA fee
Post-Op Care
Recovery and aftercare
Total Estimated Cost
North Dakota all-in range
Financing Options
Many North Dakota clinics partner with CareCredit or Alphaeon. A typical 24-month, 0% APR term on $142,800 looks like:
- Soft credit check — no hard pull
- Instant approval decisions
- HSA/FSA eligible for qualifying cases
Prices reflect regional cost-of-living adjustments. How we calculate these numbers →
Ranges adjusted for North Dakota's regional price parity (95.2). See the national percentage breakdown →
Facility Costs in North Dakota
CMS Medicare data shows limited facility options for open heart surgery in North Dakota. Fewer providers can mean less price competition.
| Facility | City | Negotiated Rate | Medicare | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altru Hospital | Grand Forks | $68,896 | $62,526 | 19 |
| Sanford | Fargo | $62,673 | $60,496 | 15 |
Open Heart Surgery Cost in Nearby States
North Dakota has the lowest open heart surgery costs in the region. Neighboring states all run higher — here's how they compare.
Expert Answers for North Dakota Patients
Local regulations, insurance nuance, and surgical standards specific to North Dakota.
Compare North Dakota with any other state
See national pricing, all 50 state comparisons, and detailed cost factors in the main open heart surgery cost guide.
View full open heart surgery guideWhat should I expect to pay for open heart surgery in North Dakota?
Does insurance cover open heart surgery?
When can I return to work after open heart surgery?
Are payment plans available for open heart surgery in North Dakota?
Does North Dakota Medicaid cover open heart surgery?
Is open heart surgery eligible for HSA/FSA funds?
What fees are bundled into open heart surgery costs in North Dakota?
How we calculate open heart surgery costs in North Dakota
Cost estimates combine procedure-specific pricing data with regional cost-of-living and provider-supply adjustments. Primary sources:
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Hospital pricing transparency files — CMS-required machine-readable data published by hospitals under the CMS Hospital Price Transparency rule (effective January 2021). Provides actual negotiated rates between hospitals and insurers.
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HCUP (Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project) — AHRQ's HCUP databases provide nationally-representative procedure cost data by state, payer, and patient demographics.
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Bureau of Labor Statistics — Healthcare Practitioner Occupational Wages — BLS OEWS data on surgeon, anesthesiologist, and surgical staff wages by state, used to model regional labor-cost differences in procedure pricing.
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BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis state-level price-level indices, used to adjust national procedure averages for North Dakota's cost-of-living relative to the national mean.
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FAIR Health Consumer Cost Lookup — the FAIR Health database aggregates billed and allowed amounts from over 36 billion claim records, providing a check on procedure-cost ranges by ZIP code.
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Medicare Provider Utilization & Payment Data — CMS public-use files on Medicare-allowed amounts and submitted charges by HCPCS/CPT code and state, used as a baseline for procedure-cost ranges.
Estimates are illustrative and reflect typical pricing ranges; actual costs depend on insurance coverage, surgical complexity, anesthesia type, hospital vs. ambulatory setting, and individual patient factors. Always confirm pricing directly with providers and your insurance carrier. See our methodology page for full calculation details.