CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Sheridan County Hospital
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $662
- Cash Discount Price: $914
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.20x 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 620% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 520%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Celtic Insurance | $553 | 518% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $662 | 620% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $868 | 813% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the chest without contrast at Sheridan County Hospital in Hoxie, Kansas, the cash price is $914.00, which matches the facility's median paid amount. This cash rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, reflecting a markup of 6.2 times the federal rate. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans should consider that paying cash upfront might be more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for in-network payers like Celtic Insurance ($553), Blue Cross Blue Shield ($662), and UnitedHealthcare ($868) all exceed the cash price. To minimize 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.
It is important to note that the data provided represents specific contracted amounts for three payers and does not include state or county average comparisons. If a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider at this facility, they may face balance billing for the difference between the full chargemaster rate and the insurance allowed amount, though the No Surprises Act protects against such surprise bills for emergency and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure accuracy, patients should request a detailed, itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes. Disputing any discrepancies in writing with the billing supervisor is the most effective way to reduce medical debt and verify that all charges correspond to services actually rendered.