Ultrasound, thyroid and neck
Facility: University Of Ks Hlth System Great Bend Campus
Billing Code: 76536 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 76536
- Insurance Median: $310
- Cash Discount Price: $177
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.90x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 290% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 190%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Workers Comp [503999901] | $98 | 92% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $98 | 92% |
| Ku Athletics [503200094] | $98 | 92% |
| Medicare (plans) | $100 | 94% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $101 | 95% |
| Allwell [503200078] | $101 | 95% |
| Triwest [503201703] | $103 | 96% |
| Tricare | $103 | 96% |
| Humana | $103 | 96% |
| Centurion [5032000966] | $127 | 119% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $142 | 133% |
| Fort Hays State Student Athletes [5032000960] | $205 | 192% |
| Occunet [503999930] | $205 | 192% |
| 6 Degrees Health [503999050] | $244 | 228% |
| Hchsync Centrus Health Direct [503999916] | $266 - $310 | 249% |
| Advanced Medical Pricing Solutions [503301513] | $309 | 289% |
| Alt Wppa [5032000964] | $373 | 349% |
| Meritain Health [503200039] | $373 - $532 | 349% |
| Wppa [503200056] | $373 | 349% |
| Alt Carelon Behavioral Health [503200905] | $444 | 416% |
| Php [503200005] | $532 | 498% |
| Cigna | $532 - $710 | 498% |
| Aha-Healthcare Preferred [503200050] | $532 | 498% |
| National Assn Letter Carriers [503200019] | $532 | 498% |
| First Health [5032000110] | $532 | 498% |
| Aetna | $532 | 498% |
| Allied National [503999937] | $532 | 498% |
| Alt Meritain Health [503999911] | $532 | 498% |
| Correct Care Solutions [50311253] | $621 | 581% |
| Usa Managed Care [503999030] | $798 | 747% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 76536, "Ultrasound, thyroid and neck," the University of KS Health System Great Bend Campus lists a cash median price of $177.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $887.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with insurance payers range from $98 to $710, the cash price remains the lowest option available in this dataset. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $177.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount. Patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can further reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is crucial to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the facility's inflated chargemaster list. The Medicare allowed amount for this procedure is $106.81, and the facility's cash rate of $177.00 represents a markup of approximately 2.9 times the Medicare rate. Although commercial negotiated rates can average 200% to 300% of Medicare, the cash price here is notably lower than many commercial tiers, such as the $710.00 maximum allowed by Cigna. To ensure you are not overcharged, request a full itemized CPT-coded bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as summary bills often obscure these discrepancies.