CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Grisell Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $816
- Cash Discount Price: $889
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.64x 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 764% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 664%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $430 | 403% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $696 - $936 | 652% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $936 | 876% |
| Humana | $936 | 876% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71250 (CT scan, chest, no contrast) at Grisell Memorial Hospital in Ransom, KS, the facility's cash median price is $889.00, which is lower than the gross charge of $936.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, patients should note that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead; for instance, UnitedHealthcare's negotiated range spans $696 to $936, meaning paying cash upfront could result in immediate savings compared to insurance reimbursement. Given that the cash price is already below the facility's gross charge, patients with high-deductible plans may find self-pay or prompt-pay discounts the most cost-effective option, provided they verify the specific "self-pay" rate with the hospital before scheduling.
The data indicates that the facility's negotiated rates for this service are significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, with a median paid amount of $936.00 reflecting the typical markup found in commercial contracts. Although specific county or state average comparisons are not included in the provided dataset, it is important to understand that Medicare rates serve as the objective baseline for evaluating hospital pricing markups, revealing that commercial rates often range from 200% to 300% of the Medicare amount. To avoid unexpected costs, consumers should request an itemized billing audit to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, and they should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency care at in-network facilities, out-of-network ancillary services may still trigger additional charges