CMS Price Transparency Data

CT scan, abdomen and pelvis (with contrast)

Facility: Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center

Billing Code: 74177 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$319

about 0.9× the $356 Medicare rate · typically $229–$471

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$439

Above the fair price

about $120 over the fair price · 1.2× Medicare

Medicare pays $356 Fair price $319 This hospital $439 Hospital's list price $5,467

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other IA hospitals

Highest price of the 9 IA hospitals we have prices for — worth calling around.

Cheapest $133 Priciest $439

Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 IA hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.

A fair price for a CT scan, abdomen and pelvis (with contrast) is about $319 (about 0.9× the $356 Medicare rate). Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center charges insurers about $439 — above the fair price. Located in Waterloo, IA.

This price is above the fair BaseRate — you may be able to pay less

Ask the hospital for the cash / self-pay price, check whether you qualify for financial assistance, or negotiate the bill down toward the fair price of about $319. Many patients pay well below the first number they’re quoted — the checklists below walk you through it.

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

5 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Aetna✓ Cigna✓ Kaiser Permanente Humana

Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.

Insurance company	Price range	vs. Medicare
UnitedHealthcaremajor	$335 - $5,467	94%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$332 - $439	93%
Aetnamajor	$329 - $1,348	92%
Cignamajor	$3,882	1089%
Kaiser Permanentemajor	$356 - $439	100%
Ambetter (Centene)	$563	158%
GEHA	$829	233%
HealthPartners	$3,586	1006%
Medica	$3,882	1089%
Medical Mutual	$1,348	378%
Oscar Health	$515	144%
+ 20 smaller / regional plans	$115 - $5,467

Government programs also on file: Medicare, Medicaid.

Excludes 3 rental-network / third-party entries (e.g. Multiplan, PHCS) — these are pricing networks, not insurers.

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

Tell the billing desk you want to be billed as self-pay — not through insurance — before your visit.
Ask for the cash / prompt-pay discount in writing, with the exact price, before you agree to anything.
Get it in writing that they won’t also bill your insurance, so the cash price is what you owe.
Check the CPT code on your bill matches exactly: 74177.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for CPT code 74177.
Confirm the doctor or provider is in-network too — not just the hospital building.
Check your Explanation of Benefits against the hospital’s final itemized bill.

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost

A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.

How you’d pay

Deductible left to meet ($)

Your coinsurance (%)

Enter your details and press estimate to compare.

Other Procedures at Mercyone Waterloo Medical Center

Compare: CT scan, abdomen and pelvis (with contrast) at other IA hospitals

Insurance negotiated median for the same procedure, sorted lowest first.