CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Goodland Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $870
- Cash Discount Price: $870
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.15x 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 815% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 715%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $458 | 429% |
| Wppa | $822 - $870 | 770% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $870 | 815% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the chest without contrast at Goodland Regional Medical Center, the cash median price is $870.00, which matches the median negotiated rate for in-network payers like Wppa and UnitedHealthcare. While the facility's gross charge is $967.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates here do not exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that this facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Goodland, KS, and while specific state or county average data was not provided in the report, patients should always verify if their specific insurance plan has a lower allowed amount before scheduling to ensure they are not overpaying.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $106.81, indicating that the commercial rates charged are significantly higher than the federal baseline used to calculate true healthcare costs. Although the report does not list a specific median paid amount, the absence of a negotiated rate lower than the cash price suggests that in-network members are not receiving a discount on this particular code. To minimize costs, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. Additionally, if you receive a bill after insurance processing, request an itemized audit to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected.