Ultrasound, abdomen (complete)
Facility: Sheridan County Hospital
Billing Code: 76700 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 76700
- Insurance Median: $209
- Cash Discount Price: $309
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.96x 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.
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 | $187 | 175% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $209 | 196% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $294 | 275% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 76700, Ultrasound, abdomen (complete), Sheridan County Hospital in Hoxie, KS, lists a cash price of $309.00, which matches the facility's cash median. This rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, reflecting a markup of 200% relative to the federal government's fixed reimbursement rate. While commercial insurance carriers like Celtic Insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare have negotiated rates of $187, $209, and $294 respectively, these amounts often exceed the cash price for patients with high-deductible plans. In such cases, paying the cash rate directly can be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates include administrative overhead and contractual ceilings that may not align with your specific deductible status.
Patients should verify if the hospital offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing costly claims processing. Although the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, it is important to note that the provided data does not include a state or county average for comparison. To ensure you are receiving fair pricing, request a full itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital invoices contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes. Always confirm your deductible balance prior to using insurance for shoppable tests to avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs.