CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Lane County Hospital
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $950
- Cash Discount Price: $950
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.89x 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 889% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 789%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $855 - $950 | 800% |
| Aetna | $855 - $902 | 800% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $950 | 889% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $950 - $1,045 | 889% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $950 | 889% |
| Wppa Providers-All Plans | $1,425 | 1334% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71250 (CT scan, chest, no contrast) at Lane County Hospital in Dighton, KS, the cash price is $950, which matches the facility's negotiated rates with UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Healthy Blue. This cash price is significantly lower than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, indicating a substantial markup on the federal rate. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, patients should be aware that commercial insurance plans often pay negotiated rates that can exceed the cash price; for instance, Medicaid/KanCare plans may pay up to $1,425 depending on the specific plan. Because cash payments can sometimes be cheaper for patients with high-deductible plans when the insurance allowed amount is higher than the cash rate, it is advisable to ask the hospital directly about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling.
The data shows that the cash price of $950 is the median paid amount across all payers, suggesting that for many in-network plans, the negotiated rate aligns closely with the cash price. However, patients should avoid accepting summary bills as final invoices, as hospitals may obscure individual charges under broad categories like "Laboratory." If a patient receives an itemized bill that includes unexpected ancillary services or appears to balance bill for the difference between the chargemaster and the allowed amount, they should request a formal itemized audit to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, obtaining a detailed line-by-line statement is the most effective way to reduce medical debt and ensure the patient is only paying for services