Speech therapy (group session)
Facility: Stevens County Hospital
Billing Code: 92508 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 92508
- Insurance Median: $36
- Cash Discount Price: $38
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.50x 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 $24.05 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $14 - $38 | 58% |
| Humana | $14 | 58% |
| First Health - All Plans | $34 | 141% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $36 | 150% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $38 | 158% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $49 - $52 | 204% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this speech therapy session at Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, Kansas, the cash price is $38.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rate for Medicaid and the highest negotiated rate among commercial payers. While the cash price is identical to the maximum amount commercial insurers like Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield agreed to pay, it is notably higher than the state average for this service. Patients should be aware that paying cash upfront can sometimes be more cost-effective than relying on insurance if their plan has a high deductible or if the insurer's negotiated rate exceeds the cash price, though in this specific case, the cash rate equals the top commercial rate. To potentially lower the cost further, patients should contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which often provide an additional reduction for upfront billing.
The Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $24.05, indicating that the cash price represents a markup of 150% over the federal government's calculated cost baseline. This aligns with the typical range for fair pricing, as commercial negotiated rates generally average between 200% and 300% of Medicare, though this facility's rate sits at the lower end of that spectrum. If you have received a bill from an out-of-network provider or unexpected ancillary services at this in-network facility, you may be subject to balance billing, but federal protections under the No Surprises Act ban such surprise charges for emergency and non-emergency care. Furthermore, if your bill includes broad category totals, you should request a full itemized audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain