Ultrasound, abdomen (complete)
Facility: Stanton County Hospital
Billing Code: 76700 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 76700
- Insurance Median: $749
- Cash Discount Price: $788
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.01x 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 701% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 601%). 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 | $144 - $749 | 135% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $772 | 723% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $788 | 738% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 76700, representing a complete abdominal ultrasound at Stanton County Hospital in Johnson, KS, the cash price is $788.00, which matches the facility's gross charge. This rate is significantly higher than the state average for this procedure, which is $760.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for in-network payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield range from $144 to $749, yet the cash price remains the same as the gross charge. It is important to note that while the median negotiated amount across all plans is $749.00, the cash price does not decrease; however, patients should always ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing costs.
When comparing this service to Medicare, the commercial cash rate of $788.00 is 7.0 times higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, highlighting a substantial markup typical of commercial billing structures. Although the facility is in-network for three payers, the wide variance in negotiated rates—from as low as $144 to $788—suggests that plan-specific contracts heavily influence the final cost. Patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency care under the No Surprises Act, but they must ensure they are not signing away rights to dispute out-of-network ancillary