CT scan, chest (no contrast)

Mercy Hospital Pittsburg, Inc., located at 1 Mt Carmel Way in Pittsburg, Kansas, performed a CT scan of the chest without contrast. The facility's cash median rate is $1,836, while the negotiated rates for insurance payers range from $60 to $2,400, with a median negotiated rate of $105 and a median paid rate of $107. For comparison, the Medicare amount for this service is $106.81, which serves as a benchmark for the true cost of delivery. Notably, several commercial payers, including Medicaid/KanCare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Humana, have negotiated rates that exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might find paying the cash rate of $1,836 more financially advantageous than relying on their insurance coverage.

Patients should verify whether the facility offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payments can significantly reduce the bill by bypassing costly insurance claims processing. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network emergency care at in-network facilities, unexpected ancillary services or non-emergency procedures may still trigger surprise charges if not properly managed. To ensure accuracy, consumers should request a full itemized billing audit containing specific CPT codes rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled charges that can be disputed in writing to reduce medical debt.