Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
Facility: Cloud County Health Center
Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 29881
- Insurance Median: $673
- Cash Discount Price: $1,240
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.20x 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 $3,342.87 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mpi-All Plans | $634 | 19% |
| Pponext-All Plans | $673 - $2,693 | 20% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, KS, the facility's cash median price is $1,240, while the negotiated rate for in-network payers averages $673. This cash price is notably lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,772 and represents a significant discount compared to the Medicare benchmark of $3,342.87. Because the cash price is lower than the median negotiated rate, patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may save money by paying out-of-pocket, provided they can secure a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling. It is important to verify that the facility accepts your specific insurance plan, as in-network rates vary; for example, Pponext-All Plans have a negotiated range of $673 to $2,693 across two plans, whereas Mpi-All Plans has a fixed rate of $634.
The facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, which often influences pricing transparency and discount availability. While the data shows a 20% variance versus Medicare, the primary takeaway for consumers is that the negotiated rate of $673 serves as a ceiling for in-network coverage, but the actual amount you owe depends on your individual deductible status and plan details. To avoid unexpected balance billing or administrative fees, patients should request a waiver of insurance submission if they choose to pay cash upfront, as this bypasses the costly claims processing that typically inflates commercial rates. Always ask the billing department about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%