Ultrasound, thyroid and neck
Facility: Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc
Billing Code: 76536 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 76536
- Insurance Median: $99
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.93x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $98 | 92% |
| Via Christi Research | $98 | 92% |
| Medicare (plans) | $98 - $100 | 92% |
| Va | $98 | 92% |
| Vc Hope | $98 | 92% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $98 | 92% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $100 - $275 | 94% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $100 | 94% |
| Corizon | $123 | 115% |
| Smarthealth | $138 | 129% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $167 | 156% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $222 | 208% |
| Aetna | $286 | 268% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 76536 (Ultrasound, thyroid and neck), the negotiated rates at Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc. range from $98 to $286, with a median negotiated amount of $99.00. This facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital located in Wichita, KS (zip 67235). While the data does not provide specific county or state average benchmarks for this procedure, the facility's Medicare benchmark rate is $106.81, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for evaluating pricing markups. Commercial negotiated rates often exceed this benchmark due to administrative costs and contract dynamics, though patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount, as some payers like UnitedHealthcare have a wider range ($100–$275) compared to others with fixed rates around $98–$100.
Patients should be aware that cash-pay rates are not listed in this report, but it is important to note that cash payments can sometimes be more cost-effective than insurance claims for those with high-deductible plans, as the insurance negotiated rate may exceed the actual cash price. Before scheduling, individuals should explicitly request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% by bypassing insurance billing cycles and administrative overhead. If a balance bill arises from an out-of-network service, such as certain lab tests or ancillary procedures, patients should not pay immediately out of fear of credit damage; instead, they should dispute the bill with their insurer and request a No Surprises Act audit to ensure they are not being charged for out-of-network