CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Girard Medical Center
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $805
- Cash Discount Price: $1,380
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.54x 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 754% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 654%). 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 | $480 - $805 | 449% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $805 - $2,185 | 754% |
| Kansas Superior Select-All Plans | $805 | 754% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $805 | 754% |
| Aetna | $805 - $4,025 | 754% |
| Medicare (plans) | $805 | 754% |
| Humana | $805 | 754% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $2,128 | 1992% |
| Uhhis-All Plans | $2,185 | 2046% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the chest without contrast at Girard Medical Center, the cash median price is $1,380, while the median negotiated rate paid by insurance is $805. This facility, a Critical Access Hospital in Kansas, reports a Medicare benchmark of $106.81, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing fairness. Although the cash price is higher than the negotiated rate, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash median of $1,380 more cost-effective if their insurance allowed amount exceeds this figure, as they would avoid out-of-pocket costs for the deductible and copay. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital, commercial rates often include administrative overhead that can inflate the baseline price, so comparing the final allowed amount to the Medicare benchmark rather than the gross chargemaster provides a clearer picture of value.
Patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act, meaning unexpected bills for out-of-network providers at this hospital are likely illegal. However, if a patient chooses to pay out-of-network or if ancillary services are not covered by the contract, they should request an itemized billing audit to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes. Additionally, before scheduling, patients should explicitly ask for self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront, bypassing the costly claims processing cycle that insurance billing requires.