CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Cloud County Health Center
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $2,567
- Cash Discount Price: $1,892
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 24.03x 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 2403% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 2303%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $2,432 - $2,513 | 2277% |
| Mpi-All Plans | $2,567 | 2403% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $2,567 | 2403% |
| Pponext-All Plans | $2,567 | 2403% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the chest without contrast at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, KS, the facility's cash price of $1,892 is lower than the average negotiated rates paid by major insurers like Aetna, Mpi-All Plans, and Health Partners, which range between $2,432 and $2,567. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the commercial negotiated rates exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that the facility's cash rate is also lower than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81 adjusted for local costs, which serves as the federal baseline for fair pricing; however, commercial rates often include administrative overhead that can inflate the final bill.
To avoid unexpected costs, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate may be required if the deductible has not been met. If a patient chooses to pay out-of-pocket, they should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount at the time of registration to bypass insurance billing cycles and secure the lowest possible rate. Additionally, if any balance billing occurs due to out-of-network ancillary services, patients should not immediately pay the full amount but instead request an itemized audit to identify unbundled codes or services not rendered, ensuring compliance with federal protections like the No Surprises Act.