Gallbladder removal (laparoscopic)
Facility: Smith County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 47562 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 47562
- Insurance Median: $7,036
- Cash Discount Price: $7,485
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.14x 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 | $4,826 | 78% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $5,240 - $7,485 | 85% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $6,737 | 109% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $7,036 | 114% |
| Health Partners Of Ks Ppo-All Plans | $7,111 | 115% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $7,111 | 115% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $7,111 | 115% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the gallbladder removal (laparoscopic) procedure at Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, Kansas, the cash price is $7,485.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate. This cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $6,176.47, indicating a markup of 1.1 times the federal rate. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that commercial insurance plans like Medicaid/KanCare and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated rates ranging from $4,826 to $7,485, depending on the specific plan. Because the cash price is lower than the highest negotiated rates found in the data, patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find paying out-of-pocket more cost-effective than relying on insurance, provided they qualify for prompt-pay discounts.
To maximize savings, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling their visit, as billing systems often default to insurance processing once a card is on file. If a patient chooses to use insurance, they must be cautious of balance billing, which occurs when a provider bills the difference between their full charge and what the insurer pays; however, the No Surprises Act protects patients from such surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should always demand a full itemized CPT-coded bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, and they should formally dispute any discrepancies in writing to ensure accuracy before payment.