Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
Facility: Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City
Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 29881
- Insurance Median: $493
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.15x 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 $3,342.87 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Health | $493 | 15% |
| Medicare (plans) | $493 | 15% |
| Aetna | $493 | 15% |
| Cigna | $493 | 15% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $493 | 15% |
| Humana | $493 | 15% |
| Kaiser | $493 | 15% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair procedure at Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City, the negotiated rates across all major payers, including Kansas Health, Medicare, and Aetna, are consistently set at $493. This figure represents the maximum amount these insurers will pay for this specific service under their contracts. It is important to note that while commercial negotiated rates often average between 200% and 300% of the Medicare benchmark, this facility's rate is significantly lower than typical commercial markups, aligning closer to the 120% to 150% range often considered fair pricing. The Medicare benchmark for this code is $3,342.87, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing structure.
Patients should be aware that the $493 negotiated rate may not be the lowest possible cost if they have a high-deductible plan, as cash prices can sometimes be cheaper when insurance allowed amounts exceed the cash price. However, since the cash median and median paid amounts are not available in this dataset, the most reliable path to savings is to verify if the facility offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling. Additionally, because this is a proprietary facility in Dodge City, KS, patients should request an itemized billing audit to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final statement, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written dispute.