How many shoppable procedure prices are published for Kern Medical Center?

Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, CA currently has 115 standardized procedure price records indexed from its public 45 CFR § 180 machine-readable file.

How do Kern Medical Center's commercial prices compare to the fair BaseRate?

Across scored shoppable procedures, Kern Medical Center's median negotiated commercial rate is 0.7× the regionally adjusted fair BaseRate benchmark.

What is Kern Medical Center's CMS Care Compare overall star rating?

CMS Care Compare assigns Kern Medical Center an overall hospital quality rating of 1 out of 5 stars based on public federal clinical and patient-experience measures.

Hospital Profile Acute Care Hospital Government - Hospital District or Authority 222 Beds · urban Updated: 4/1/2026

Kern Medical Center

1700 Mount Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93306 · 115 Priced Procedures · 57% Patient Recommendation

CMS Overall Rating 1 / 5 Stars

Good Deal · Below Fair Market

0.67×vs. Fair Market Price

Typical commercial prices here are 33% below the fair benchmark (0.67×) after accounting for local nurse/doctor wages and patient complexity.

75/100 · Corroborated

75/100Self-Pay Cash Beats Insurance 26% of the Time

File Completeness51

Price Logic80

Peer Alignment65

Clean Billing88

Real Cash Discount98

Regional Benchmark Tier

2-Star CMS clinical quality rating paired with 0.67× fair market pricing.

Behavioral Pricing FingerprintLow Shoppable & Low Captive Rates

Uniform Value Leader · Low-Cost Across Departments

Kern Medical Center maintains low, disciplined commercial pricing across both routine shoppable procedures (0.7× Medicare, p50 0.62× Fair BaseRate) and emergency/ancillary services (0.6× Medicare, p75 0.70× Fair BaseRate). Both insured and self-pay patients benefit from below-benchmark rates across departments.

#5 of 240 in CA · 1st State Percentile#110 of 3,385 in U.S. · 3rd National Percentile

Advantage

Where They're Good (Patient & Payer Edge)

Elective shoppable care is priced 33% below peer Fair BaseRate (0.67×)
Self-pay cash beats commercial insurance on 26% of shoppable procedures (98/100 Cash Honesty)
1-Star CMS clinical rating with 57% patient recommendation (54/100 safety score)
Binding Good Faith Estimate rights under 45 CFR § 149.610 protect self-pay patients before scheduling

Watchout

Where You Can Get Burned (Markup Traps)

Even at low-cost facilities (0.67× Fair BaseRate), out-of-network or unnegotiated chargemaster bills can exceed commercial medians — confirm in-network status or request a self-pay cash quote up front.
Commercial insurance median sits at 0.62× Fair BaseRate (0.7× Medicare), so insured patients should always compare the self-pay cash price before paying.
Even at low-cost facilities (0.67× Fair BaseRate), out-of-network or unnegotiated chargemaster bills can exceed commercial medians — confirm in-network status or request a self-pay cash quote up front.
Unnegotiated chargemaster list prices average 4.1× Medicare (26¢ true HCRIS cost per $1 gross)

Front-Door ShoppableElective / Imaging

0.7× Medicare

Pre-scheduled outpatient procedures where patients can comparison-shop.

Back-Door Captive & ER0.86× Divergence

0.6× Medicare

Emergency, inpatient DRG, lab, and specialty drug lines billed after admission.

Quantile Tail Spread+13% Upper Tail

Q25 0.35× · Q50 0.62× · Q75 0.70×

Detects median-gaming when upper-quartile codes spike above the p50 median.

Select any lens to inspect department markups, federal cost accounting, or insurer discounts.

Department & Integrity Multiples (vs. CMS Medicare Cost Anchor) Green ≤1.3× · Teal 1.3–1.8× · Amber 1.8–2.5× · Rose >2.5×

Front-Door Shoppable CareFront-Door Shoppable

0.7× MedicareGood

Outpatient Surgery & ORBack-Door Captive

0.6× MedicareGood

Diagnostic Imaging (CT/MRI)Front-Door Shoppable

0.6× MedicareGood

Back-Door Captive ER VisitsBack-Door Captive

3.2× MedicareElevated

Inpatient Lab & PathologyBack-Door Captive

0.7× MedicareGood

Specialty & Infusion Drugs (J-Codes)Back-Door Captive

0.5× MedicareGood

Self-Pay Cash Honesty & 501(r)Integrity & Outcomes

26% Cash Edge · 98/100Good

CMS Clinical Safety & Star ValueIntegrity & Outcomes

1 CMS · 54/100Elevated

Procedure Prices at Kern Medical Center

High-impact clinical procedures (MRIs, surgeries, inpatient stays, visits) are prioritized first. Use the category pills or search bar to filter all 115 published procedures.

Sort:

Audit a Bill & 501(r) Cap ↓

Procedure & Billing Code	Self-Pay Cash	This Hospital	Fair BaseRate	vs. Fair
Total hip replacement CPT Code: `27130`	$3,426	$3,426	$13,413	0.3×
Total knee replacement CPT Code: `27447`	$3,422	$3,422	$13,523	0.3×
C-section delivery (full package) CPT Code: `59510`	$6,210	$2,587	$2,975	0.9×
Vaginal delivery (full package) CPT Code: `59400`	$5,624	$2,343	$2,680	0.9×
Gallbladder removal (laparoscopic) CPT Code: `47562`	$1,553	$1,553	$6,109	0.3×
Bunion correction surgery CPT Code: `28296`	$1,186	$899	$3,446	0.3×
Trauma team activation HCPCS Code: `G0390`	$15,200	$690	$1,453	0.5×
Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair CPT Code: `29881`	$1,376	$579	$3,372	0.2×
Cataract surgery with lens implant CPT Code: `66984`	$1,346	$545	$2,540	0.2×
Inguinal hernia repair CPT Code: `49505`	$1,315	$516	$3,629	0.1×
Breast lump removal CPT Code: `19120`	$1,045	$523	$3,875	0.1×
Colonoscopy with biopsy CPT Code: `45380`	$511	$438	$1,256	0.3×
Behavioral health counseling (per session) HCPCS Code: `H0008`	$421	$421	$257	unverified
Upper endoscopy with biopsy CPT Code: `43239`	$352	$380	$987	0.4×
Injection procedure for pain management HCPCS Code: `G0260`	$1,765	$353	$855	0.4×
Colonoscopy (diagnostic) CPT Code: `45378`	$471	$344	$981	0.4×
CT scan, abdomen and pelvis (with contrast) CPT Code: `74177`	$2,542	$282	$448	0.6×
MRI, brain (with and without contrast) CPT Code: `70553`	$1,287	$288	$511	0.6×
MRI, knee or other leg joint CPT Code: `73721`	$797	$231	$369	0.6×
Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) CPT Code: `93306`	$1,672	$240	$583	0.4×
Hepatitis B immune globulin HCPCS Code: `90371`	$223	$223	$151	unverified
Psychiatric evaluation (first visit) CPT Code: `90791`	$371	$172	$185	0.9×
Psychotherapy session (60 minutes) CPT Code: `90837`	$319	$159	$181	0.9×
CT scan, head (with and without contrast) CPT Code: `70470`	$1,212	$168	$258	0.7×
CT scan, abdomen and pelvis (no contrast) CPT Code: `74176`	$1,890	$174	$303	0.6×
MRI, lower back (no contrast) CPT Code: `72148`	$781	$176	$338	0.5×
MRI, brain (no contrast) CPT Code: `70551`	$788	$176	$343	0.5×
CT scan, head (with contrast) CPT Code: `70460`	$970	$143	$242	0.6×
Blood transfusion CPT Code: `36430`	$1,333	$158	$498	0.3×
Office visit, established patient (30-39 min) CPT Code: `99214`	$240	$130	$123	1.1×
Office visit, established patient (20-29 min) CPT Code: `99213`	$162	$93	$87	1.1×
New patient office visit (30-44 min) CPT Code: `99203`	$203	$113	$110	1.0×
CT scan, pelvis CPT Code: `72192`	$1,045	$128	$163	0.8×
CT scan, chest (no contrast) CPT Code: `71250`	$735	$127	$167	0.8×
CT scan, sinuses CPT Code: `70486`	$901	$123	$166	0.7×
CT scan, neck (cervical spine) CPT Code: `72125`	$1,322	$125	$169	0.7×
CT scan, lower back (lumbar spine) CPT Code: `72131`	$1,090	$124	$168	0.7×
CT scan, head (no contrast) CPT Code: `70450`	$813	$101	$160	0.6×
Ultrasound, abdomen (complete) CPT Code: `76700`	$374	$83	$134	0.6×
Family therapy session CPT Code: `90847`	$251	$105	$173	0.6×
Neurobehavioral status check CPT Code: `96116`	$198	$91	$231	0.4×
Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine HCPCS Code: `90716`	$240	$240	$203	unverified
Typhoid vaccine HCPCS Code: `90675`	$1,221	$201	$347	0.6×
MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) HCPCS Code: `90707`	$139	$139	$111	unverified
Care planning with family CPT Code: `90887`	$346	$77	$107	0.7×
Speech therapy (language evaluation) CPT Code: `92507`	$282	$61	$86	0.7×
Psychotherapy session (45 minutes) CPT Code: `90834`	$353	$77	$166	0.5×
Community mental health services HCPCS Code: `H0038`	$141	$28	$16	1.8×
Diagnostic procedure preparation HCPCS Code: `G0279`	$68	$45	$35	1.3×
Physical therapy (gait training) CPT Code: `97116`	$209	$42	$33	1.3×
Physical therapy (manual therapy) CPT Code: `97140`	$179	$36	$34	1.1×
Extended office visit (prolonged) HCPCS Code: `G2212`	$116	$32	$33	1.0×
Physical therapy (therapeutic exercise) CPT Code: `97110`	$160	$32	$35	0.9×
Physical therapy (neuromuscular re-education) CPT Code: `97112`	$170	$32	$38	0.8×
Occupational therapy (self-care training) CPT Code: `97535`	$160	$32	$38	0.8×
Occupational therapy (therapeutic activities) CPT Code: `97530`	$160	$32	$40	0.8×
Prosthetic fitting and training CPT Code: `97761`	$160	$32	$45	0.7×
Flu vaccine injection HCPCS Code: `G0008`	$142	$34	$48	0.7×
Pneumonia vaccine injection HCPCS Code: `G0009`	$142	$34	$49	0.7×
Colorectal cancer screening HCPCS Code: `G0010`	$142	$34	$49	0.7×
Orthotic fitting and training CPT Code: `97760`	$160	$32	$51	0.6×
Pneumococcal vaccine HCPCS Code: `90732`	$350	$57	$140	0.4×
X-ray, hip CPT Code: `73502`	$196	$37	$93	0.4×
X-ray, lower back CPT Code: `72110`	$325	$44	$112	0.4×
Diagnostic mammogram (both breasts) CPT Code: `77066`	$211	$53	$148	0.4×
Ultrasound, pelvis CPT Code: `76856`	$390	$45	$130	0.3×
Ultrasound, abdomen (limited) CPT Code: `76705`	$351	$43	$126	0.3×
Screening mammogram (both breasts) CPT Code: `77067`	$170	$41	$123	0.3×
Ultrasound, thyroid and neck CPT Code: `76536`	$384	$43	$132	0.3×
Ultrasound, leg veins (duplex) CPT Code: `93970`	$462	$57	$272	0.2×
Blood test, PSA (prostate screen) CPT Code: `84153`	$33	$33	$19	unverified
Hepatitis B vaccine HCPCS Code: `90744`	$48	$48	$37	unverified
Blood test, calcium CPT Code: `82310`	$18	$4	$5	0.8×
Blood test, glucose (blood sugar) CPT Code: `82947`	$13	$3	$4	0.8×
Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney) CPT Code: `84520`	$13	$3	$4	0.8×
Blood test, lipase CPT Code: `83690`	$23	$5	$7	0.7×
Blood test, average blood sugar (A1c) CPT Code: `83036`	$33	$7	$10	0.7×
Blood test, basic metabolic panel CPT Code: `80048`	$29	$6	$9	0.7×
Blood test, liver function panel CPT Code: `80076`	$28	$6	$9	0.7×
Urinalysis (automated, with microscopy) CPT Code: `81001`	$11	$2	$3	0.7×
Blood test, clotting time (PTT) CPT Code: `85730`	$15	$4	$6	0.7×
Hepatitis C antibody test CPT Code: `86803`	$49	$10	$15	0.7×
Culture, bacterial CPT Code: `87070`	$29	$6	$9	0.7×
Blood test, vitamin D CPT Code: `82306`	$101	$20	$31	0.6×
Blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel) CPT Code: `80061`	$46	$9	$14	0.6×
Blood test, ferritin (iron stores) CPT Code: `82728`	$46	$9	$14	0.6×
Blood test, comprehensive metabolic panel CPT Code: `80053`	$36	$7	$11	0.6×
Culture, blood CPT Code: `87040`	$35	$7	$11	0.6×
Blood test, vitamin B12 CPT Code: `82607`	$51	$10	$16	0.6×
Blood test, complete blood count (CBC) CPT Code: `85025`	$26	$5	$8	0.6×
Electrocardiogram (EKG, tracing only) CPT Code: `93005`	$183	$30	$64	0.5×
Blood test, creatinine (kidney) CPT Code: `82565`	$17	$3	$5	0.6×
Blood test, potassium CPT Code: `84132`	$16	$3	$5	0.6×
Blood test, sodium CPT Code: `84295`	$16	$3	$5	0.6×
Blood test, clotting time (PT/INR) CPT Code: `85610`	$13	$3	$5	0.6×
Blood test, amylase CPT Code: `82150`	$22	$4	$7	0.6×
Blood test, thyroid (TSH) CPT Code: `84443`	$37	$9	$18	0.5×
Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) HCPCS Code: `90715`	$139	$23	$56	0.4×
DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) HCPCS Code: `90700`	$87	$14	$39	0.4×
X-ray, chest (two views) CPT Code: `71046`	$178	$27	$93	0.3×
X-ray, shoulder CPT Code: `73030`	$178	$26	$92	0.3×
X-ray, neck (cervical spine) CPT Code: `72040`	$207	$26	$93	0.3×
X-ray, hand CPT Code: `73130`	$206	$25	$93	0.3×
X-ray, ankle CPT Code: `73610`	$218	$25	$93	0.3×
X-ray, foot CPT Code: `73630`	$227	$24	$92	0.3×
X-ray, pelvis CPT Code: `72170`	$200	$22	$110	0.2×
X-ray, chest (single view) CPT Code: `71045`	$168	$18	$92	0.2×
Behavioral health counseling (group) HCPCS Code: `H0009`	$421	$28	$269	0.1×
Blood test, hemoglobin CPT Code: `85018`	$5	$1	$3	0.3×
Blood antibody screen CPT Code: `86850`	$48	$10	$46	0.2×
Hospital observation (per hour) HCPCS Code: `G0378`	$157	$14	$86	0.2×
Breathing treatment (nebulizer) CPT Code: `94640`	$640	$24	$201	0.1×
Behavioral health assessment HCPCS Code: `H0001`	$328	$17	$157	0.1×
Blood test, magnesium CPT Code: `83735`	$6	$6	$7	unverified
Drug screening test HCPCS Code: `G0480`	$6	$6	$116	unverified

Showing top 25 high-impact procedures of 115 total

Inline Bill X-Ray & 501(r) Calculator For-Profit Facility · Cash & Fair BaseRate Audit

Audit a Bill or Quote at Kern Medical Center (Zero PHI Required)

CMS CCN: 050315

CPT 27130

Select Procedure to Audit:

Fair BaseRate™ $13,413

Medicare Rate $13,117

Self-Pay Cash $3,426

Insurer Median $3,426

1. Amount on Your Bill or Quote ($) Pre-filled with Kern Medical Center’s charged/list benchmark

2. Household Annual Income ($) Screened against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines

3. Household Size (1–8) 2026 FPL: $15,650 + $5,500 per additional person

Step 1 · 501(r) Charity Care Check 274% of 2026 FPL

Above Standard 400% FPL Financial-Assistance Ceiling

At 274% FPL, you exceed the standard 400% FPL tier, though medical-hardship caps (when bills exceed 10% of annual income) may still apply.

Step 2 · Cash vs. Insurance Arbitrage Save $856 Paying Cash

Self-Pay Cash Rate ($3,426) Beats Your Bill

Kern Medical Center's published 45 CFR § 180 self-pay cash rate is $3,426 (vs. $3,426 commercial insurer median). Ask billing to reclassify the visit to prompt-pay self-pay if it beats your deductible.

Step 3 · Fair BaseRate Target Target: $13,413 Fair BaseRate

Negotiate Toward $13,413 Fair BaseRate ($13,117 Medicare)

Your entered amount is at or below the modeled Fair BaseRate benchmark ($13,413).

1-Click Factual Dispute Summary: Copy a citation-backed benchmark memo (with CMS CCN, CPT code, Medicare reference, Fair BaseRate, and 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) calculations) to paste into patient-portal messages or billing appeals.

IRS Form 990 Schedule H & 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) For-Profit / Non-501(c)(3)

Financial Assistance Policy (FAP) & Amounts Generally Billed (AGB)

Public IRS & CMS ownership records classify Kern Medical Center as a non-501(c)(3) facility. Federal 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) statutory charity-care caps apply specifically to tax-exempt nonprofit hospitals, though state hospital fair-pricing statutes and prompt-pay self-pay discounts may still apply.

Screen your household size, income, and itemized CPT codes against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines: Calculate Your 501(r) Cap Above ↑

CMS Care Compare Public Quality Record

Clinical Quality, Patient Experience & Infection Benchmarks

CMS Overall2/5 Stars (2/5)

Safety Composite54/100

Would Recommend57%

Rated 9 or 10 (HCAHPS)61%

Median ER Wait293 min

Left ER Before Seen11%

30-Day Mortality vs U.S.same

Unplanned Readmissionsame

Healthcare-Associated Infections (CDC NHSN / CMS HAI)

1.00 SIR = National Predicted Baseline (Lower Is Safer)

Central-Line Bloodstream Infectionsame

C. diff Hospital-Onset Infectionbetter

CMS Price Transparency Administrative Enforcement Log

Factual public administrative actions published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding 45 CFR § 180 compliance at Kern Medical Center. Prior administrative notices do not necessarily reflect current compliance status.

2025-03-19·administrative_or_closure
Closure Notice
Recorded
2025-02-12·cap_corrective_action
CAP Request
Recorded
2024-11-05·warning_notice
Warning Notice
Recorded
2023-08-10·administrative_or_closure
Closure Notice
Recorded
2023-05-10·cap_corrective_action
CAP Request
Recorded
2023-01-24·warning_notice
Warning Notice
Recorded

Source: CMS Hospital Care Compare (310 completed HCAHPS patient surveys). Clinical quality metrics summarize historical facility-wide cohorts and are not medical advice for individual care decisions.

Care-Setting Arbitrage, Bilateral SVD Insurer Leverage & Regional Alternatives

How to Pay Less Nearby: Freestanding Centers, Insurer Leverage & Outpatient Savings

Regional Quality & Price Benchmark

2D regional comparison of commercial negotiated price index against CMS clinical quality composite for Kern Medical Center.

Price Index: 0.89× regional baseline

Quality: 40/100 CMS composite

Median Household Income$67,660U.S. Census ACS

Local Uninsured Share7.8%Regional ACS estimate

200% FPL (1 Person)$31,920Common free-care ceiling

400% FPL (Family of 4)$128,600Common AGB cap ceiling

45 CFR § 180 Primary-Source Lineage & Federal Verification VeriRate 75/100 · Corroborated CMS CCN 050315

Verify the Raw Data: Official Hospital MRF, CMS Medicare.gov & Federal Filings

MRF Portal Indexed (CMS_45_CFR_180_FILING.json) Verify on CMS Medicare.gov (CCN 050315) ↗ CMS HCRIS Cost Reports ↗

Published MRF FileCMS_45_CFR_180_FILING.json

Publication / Vintage4/1/2026

Validated Rate Rows1,715 (CMS v3.0.0)

File Integrity DigestVerified · CCN 050315

Safe-Harbor Data Corrections: Parsed directly from public 45 CFR § 180 hospital filings, CMS Care Compare, and CMS HCRIS cost reports. Hospital compliance officers may submit updated MRF URLs or rate tables for verification.

Submit MRF Update Correction Policy