Ultrasound, thyroid and neck
Facility: Mercy Hospital Pittsburg, Inc
Billing Code: 76536 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 76536
- Insurance Median: $105
- Cash Discount Price: $573
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.98x Medicare
Average discount available for prompt cash payment at this facility.
Median negotiated contract rate across all mapped commercial carriers.
Standard federal government reimbursement rate for this code.
Visual Cost Comparison vs. Medicare
Understanding this gauge: We use the federal Medicare rate of $106.81 as the cost baseline. Rates below the baseline represent excellent value. In-network commercial rates commonly hover around 150% - 250% of Medicare, while rates exceeding 300% are elevated. Hover over the green and blue markers to view detailed calculations.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimator
Estimate whether it is more economical to use your insurance or pay the upfront self-pay cash rate.
Commercial Insurance Negotiated Rates
Negotiated contract ranges established by major commercial carriers at this facility.
| Carrier / Plan Group | Contract Rate Range | vs. Medicare Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $60 - $104 | 56% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $60 - $579 | 56% |
| Humana | $70 - $102 | 66% |
| Aetna | $70 - $749 | 66% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $91 - $594 | 85% |
| Halo Hcr Inc Hospice Contracted [320432] | $102 | 95% |
| Kindful Hospice [20434] | $102 | 95% |
| Pace Of The Ozarks Contracted [320518] | $102 | 95% |
| Tricare | $102 | 95% |
| Mercy Hospice Okc [20252] | $102 | 95% |
| Medicare (plans) | $102 - $106 | 95% |
| Elara Caring Aspire Hospice [20433] | $102 | 95% |
| Halo Hcr Inc Hospice [20432] | $102 | 95% |
| American Health Advantage Of Ks Mcr Contracted [320508] | $102 | 95% |
| Dept Of Veteran Affairs Contracted [320106] | $102 | 95% |
| Kindful Hospice Contracted [320434] | $102 | 95% |
| Cross Timbers Hospice [20098] | $102 | 95% |
| Home State Health Plan Contracted [320187] | $104 | 97% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $104 | 97% |
| Providrs Care Network Contracted [320484] | $197 | 184% |
| Health Choice Contracted [320166] | $239 | 224% |
| Medica Contracted [320239] | $321 | 301% |
| Cigna | $455 - $467 | 426% |
| United Medical Resources Contracted [320454] | $594 | 556% |
| Aither Health Contracted [320449] | $705 | 660% |
| Yuzu Health Contracted [320521] | $705 | 660% |
| Edison Health Solutions Contracted [320502] | $705 | 660% |
| Mercy Benefit Admin Contracted [320251] | $705 | 660% |
| Auxiant Contracted [320462] | $705 | 660% |
| Imagine 360 Contracted [320494] | $705 | 660% |
| Ebms Contracted [320493] | $705 | 660% |
| Reflect Health Contracted [320492] | $705 | 660% |
| American Healthcare Alliance Contracted [320020] | $705 | 660% |
| Healthlink Contracted [320179] | $705 | 660% |
| Workers Comp [20426] | $705 | 660% |
| First Health Contracted [320128] | $749 | 701% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 76536 (Ultrasound, thyroid and neck) at Mercy Hospital Pittsburg, Inc, the facility's cash median rate is $573.00, which is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by most commercial payers. While the gross charge is $881.00, insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs for patients; for instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield's negotiated range spans from $60 to $579, and UnitedHealthcare's range extends up to $594. In cases where a patient has a high deductible or limited insurance coverage, paying the cash price of $573.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which could otherwise lead to balance billing if the provider is out-of-network or if ancillary services are not covered under the plan.
Patients should proactively contact the hospital to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative claim processing fees. It is also critical to request a full itemized billing audit before settling any debt, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or charges for services not rendered. When evaluating the facility's pricing, it is more accurate to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark of $106.81 rather than the inflated chargemaster list price, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed fair pricing thresholds. Additionally, since this facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned hospital in Pittsburg, KS, patients should verify their specific plan details to ensure they are utilizing the lowest possible rate, as some in-network contracts may still result in