CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Morris County Hospital
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $727
- Cash Discount Price: $1,119
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.81x 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 681% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 581%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Providrs Care (Wppa)(Nexus)-All Plans | $147 | 138% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $456 - $727 | 427% |
| Choice Care Mcr Adv-All Plans | $727 | 681% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $727 | 681% |
| Coventry Mcr | $727 | 681% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $727 - $1,865 | 681% |
| Cigna | $1,349 | 1263% |
| Aetna | $1,671 | 1564% |
| Coventry Comm-All Other Plans | $1,678 | 1571% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $1,678 | 1571% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the chest without contrast at Morris County Hospital in Council Grove, Kansas, the cash median price is $1,119, while the facility's negotiated rate with insurance plans averages $727. This service is provided by a Critical Access Hospital, a facility type often subject to specific federal reimbursement rules. The Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $106.81, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing; commercial negotiated rates are significantly higher than this federal standard, reflecting the administrative costs and contract structures inherent in private insurance billing. Patients should be aware that while insurance contracts cap charges at the negotiated rate, paying cash directly can sometimes result in a lower out-of-pocket cost if the patient's deductible is high, as the cash price of $1,119 is lower than the gross chargemaster but may still exceed the final allowed amount after insurance processing depending on the specific plan.
To minimize unexpected costs, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront, bypassing the administrative overhead of insurance claims. It is also important to request a detailed, itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or charges for services not rendered. If a patient receives a balance bill from an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility, they may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency and non-emergency services; in such cases, patients should dispute the bill in writing with the insurer rather than paying immediately to avoid