Gallbladder removal (laparoscopic)
Facility: Girard Medical Center
Billing Code: 47562 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 47562
- Insurance Median: $568
- Cash Discount Price: $1,683
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.09x 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 $6,176.47 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $568 - $1,030 | 9% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $568 - $804 | 9% |
| Humana | $568 | 9% |
| Kansas Superior Select-All Plans | $568 | 9% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $568 | 9% |
| Medicare (plans) | $568 | 9% |
| Aetna | $568 | 9% |
| Uhhis-All Plans | $804 | 13% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $2,595 | 42% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the gallbladder removal (laparoscopic) procedure at Girard Medical Center in Girard, KS, the facility's cash price of $1,683 is lower than the median negotiated rate of $2,595 paid by Medicare plans. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a government ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial insurance carriers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare have negotiated rates ranging from $568 to $1,030, which are significantly lower than the Medicare benchmark of $6,176.47. This disparity highlights that while commercial insurance offers lower allowed amounts than Medicare for this specific service, the actual out-of-pocket cost for patients depends heavily on their individual plan deductibles and co-pays, as the negotiated ceiling may still exceed what a patient pays out-of-pocket if their deductible has not been met.
To minimize costs, patients should verify if the facility offers a "prompt-pay" discount for upfront cash payments, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees. It is also important to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that can be corrected through a formal written dispute. Given that the facility's cash rate is already below the median negotiated amount, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price directly is more economical than relying on insurance, provided they confirm the facility will not submit a claim that would void any potential self-pay discounts.