Ultrasound, abdomen (complete)
Facility: Morris County Hospital
Billing Code: 76700 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 76700
- Insurance Median: $429
- Cash Discount Price: $659
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.02x 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 402% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 302%). 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 | $73 | 68% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $144 - $429 | 135% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $429 | 402% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $429 - $1,099 | 402% |
| Coventry Mcr | $429 | 402% |
| Choice Care Mcr Adv-All Plans | $429 | 402% |
| Cigna | $795 | 744% |
| Aetna | $985 | 922% |
| Coventry Comm-All Other Plans | $989 | 926% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $989 | 926% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the ultrasound procedure code 76700 at Morris County Hospital in Council Grove, Kansas, the facility's cash price of $659.00 is notably higher than the state average of $612.00. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures. For instance, UnitedHealthcare and Aetna have negotiated rates reaching up to $989, which is significantly higher than the cash option. This dynamic suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price directly could result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to using insurance, provided the patient's deductible has been met or the negotiated rate is fully covered.
To optimize costs, patients are encouraged to verify "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts directly with the hospital before scheduling, as these programs can offer substantial fee reductions for upfront payment. Additionally, since Medicare sets a benchmark rate of $106.81 for this service, the commercial negotiated rates observed here represent a substantial markup relative to the federal baseline. Consumers should avoid assuming that being in-network guarantees the lowest possible price, as different insurers contract at varying levels; for example, Providrs Care has a much lower rate of $73 compared to others. Finally, if a patient receives a bill, they should request a detailed itemized statement to ensure no errors exist, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be resolved through a formal audit.