Ultrasound, thyroid and neck
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 76536 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 76536
- Insurance Median: $805
- Cash Discount Price: $805
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.54x 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 754% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 654%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Health Partners-All Plans | $765 | 716% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $805 | 754% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $805 | 754% |
| Humana | $805 | 754% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $805 | 754% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the ultrasound of the thyroid and neck at Stafford County Hospital, the cash and negotiated rates are identical at $805.00, which is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81. While commercial insurance contracts often average 200% to 300% of Medicare rates, this specific service shows a negotiated rate of $805.00, which is 7.5 times the Medicare amount. Because the cash price matches the negotiated rate, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying out-of-pocket directly to the hospital offers the most predictable cost, avoiding potential deductibles or co-pays that could exceed the $805.00 threshold.
Patients should verify if the hospital offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce administrative costs and provide immediate liquidity benefits. Since the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Stafford, KS, and the rates are uniform across all five payers including Health Partners, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana, there is no variation in the allowed amount to exploit for lower pricing. To ensure accuracy, consumers should request a full itemized bill to confirm that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be resolved through a formal written audit dispute.