Ultrasound, abdomen (limited)
Facility: Republic County Hospital
Billing Code: 76705 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 76705
- Insurance Median: $290
- Cash Discount Price: $236
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.72x 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 272% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 172%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers-All Plans | $268 | 251% |
| Aetna | $284 | 266% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $284 | 266% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $290 | 272% |
| First Health-All Plans | $299 | 280% |
| Cigna | $299 | 280% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $299 | 280% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For an ultrasound of the abdomen at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS, the negotiated rates for major insurers like UnitedHealthcare and Cigna are $290, which matches the median paid amount. This negotiated rate is significantly higher than the facility's cash price of $236, meaning patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance could save money by paying cash upfront. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, it is important to note that commercial rates often include administrative costs and contract premiums that push them well above the cash price. Patients should explicitly ask for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling to ensure they are not billed the full negotiated amount if they choose to pay out-of-pocket.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $106.81, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure, the facility's cash rate of $236 is notably higher than the Medicare amount, reflecting the typical administrative and operational costs of a Critical Access Hospital. If a patient receives this service out-of-network, they could face balance billing for the difference between the provider's chargemaster and the insurance allowed amount, though the No Surprises Act protects against this for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To avoid unexpected costs, patients should request a full itemized bill to verify that all charges are accurate and that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been included.