Ultrasound, abdomen (limited)
Facility: Graham County Hospital
Billing Code: 76705 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 76705
- Insurance Median: $215
- Cash Discount Price: $278
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.01x 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 201% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 101%). 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 | $116 | 109% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $145 | 136% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $145 - $264 | 136% |
| Medicare (plans) | $208 | 195% |
| Celtic Commercial-All Other Plans | $229 | 214% |
| Wppa (Providers Care)-All Plans | $264 | 247% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this ultrasound procedure at Graham County Hospital in Hill City, Kansas, the cash price is $278.00, which matches the facility's gross chargemaster rate. While the median amount paid by insurance is $229.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the full cash price of $278.00 more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates for some payers, such as UnitedHealthcare, can exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, the cash rate remains at the full list price, meaning there is no automatic discount applied simply for being a cash payer without specific negotiation.
To minimize potential surprise costs, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can lower the final bill significantly. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a detailed, itemized statement rather than accepting a summary bill, which can hide unbundled charges or services not rendered. When evaluating the facility's pricing, it is more accurate to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark of $106.81 rather than the inflated chargemaster list, as Medicare rates represent the true cost baseline for this service in the region.