Ultrasound, thyroid and neck
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 76536 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 76536
- Insurance Median: $574
- Cash Discount Price: $544
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.37x 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 537% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 437%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $107 - $604 | 100% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $481 | 450% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $513 | 480% |
| First Health-All Plans | $544 | 509% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $544 | 509% |
| Aetna | $544 | 509% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $574 | 537% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $574 | 537% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $574 | 537% |
| Cigna | $598 | 560% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $598 | 560% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 76536 (Ultrasound, thyroid and neck), Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, KS, lists a cash median price of $544.00, which matches the median negotiated rate for most major payers in this region. This cash price is significantly lower than the gross charge of $604.00 and represents a substantial discount compared to the facility's Medicare benchmark of $106.81. While commercial insurance contracts typically range from $481 to $604, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the $544.00 cash rate upfront is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which could result in higher out-of-pocket costs if the deductible has not yet been met.
To secure the lowest possible price, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling their appointment, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. It is important to avoid accepting summary bills that obscure individual charges; instead, request a full itemized statement to verify that no services were unbundled or double-charged. Since this facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, the pricing structure is generally transparent, but patients must confirm their specific plan's allowed amount to ensure they are not inadvertently subject to balance billing or unexpected fees.