Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
Facility: Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 29881
- Insurance Median: $1,049
- Cash Discount Price: $110,828
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.31x 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 $3,342.87 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $526 | 16% |
| Medadv_Allwell | $526 | 16% |
| Medadv_Uhc | $526 | 16% |
| Medicare (plans) | $526 | 16% |
| Va_Ccn | $526 | 16% |
| Aetna | $526 | 16% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $526 - $4,479 | 16% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $552 | 17% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,049 | 31% |
| Tricare | $45,536 | 1362% |
| Wppa_Providrscare | $122,650 | 3669% |
| United | $122,945 | 3678% |
| Coventry | $140,382 | 4199% |
| Cigna | $140,382 | 4199% |
| Hpk | $140,382 | 4199% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, the facility's cash median rate is $110,828.00, which is significantly higher than the state average for this procedure. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Chanute, KS, and is owned by the local government, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates can sometimes exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. For instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield has a negotiated range of $552 to $4,479, whereas Wppa_Providrscare and United both have fixed negotiated rates of $122,650 and $122,945 respectively, illustrating that in-network coverage does not guarantee the lowest possible price. Additionally, the facility's Medicare benchmark rate is $3,342.87, which serves as a cost baseline; commercial rates often mark up significantly above this federal standard, so comparing against the Medicare amount rather than the hospital's full chargemaster provides a more accurate view of the markup.
To potentially reduce out-of-pocket costs, patients should inquire about prompt-pay discounts, which can offer fee reductions of 20% to 50% for upfront payment, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing. It is crucial to request self-pay or prompt-pay rates before scheduling and to sign a waiver of insurance submission to ensure the cash discount applies, as automatic claims submission can void such agreements. Furthermore, if a patient receives a large bill after insurance processing, they should request an itemized billing audit to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over