CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Stevens County Hospital
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $670
- Cash Discount Price: $770
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.27x 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 627% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 527%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $285 | 267% |
| Aetna | $293 - $770 | 274% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $456 - $480 | 427% |
| First Health - All Plans | $693 | 649% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $732 | 685% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $770 | 721% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the chest without contrast at Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, Kansas, the cash price is $770.00, which matches the facility's gross chargemaster rate. While commercial insurance plans like Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield negotiate rates ranging from $293 to $770, these negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying out-of-pocket. The facility, a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, offers a self-pay rate of $770.00, and patients should explicitly ask for "prompt-pay" discounts or self-pay classification before scheduling to avoid being billed the full negotiated amount by their insurer.
This service is priced significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, reflecting the standard markup for commercial billing where rates can average 200% to 300% of the Medicare amount. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this specific CPT code, the disparity between the Medicare rate and the cash price highlights the importance of understanding the true cost baseline. If you receive a bill from an out-of-network provider or unexpected ancillary services at this in-network facility, you may be subject to balance billing; however, the No Surprises Act protects you from such surprise bills for emergency and non-emergency care at in-network hospitals. To ensure accuracy, always request a full itemized bill before paying, as summary invoices can obscure errors or unbundled charges that should not be billed.