CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $591
- Cash Discount Price: $1,156
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.53x 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 553% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 453%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $381 - $581 | 357% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $381 | 357% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $381 - $2,074 | 357% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $381 | 357% |
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $381 | 357% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $456 - $480 | 427% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $591 | 553% |
| Cigna | $636 | 595% |
| Aetna | $636 | 595% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $867 | 812% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $867 | 812% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $902 | 844% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $1,040 | 974% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71250, representing a chest CT scan without contrast, Amberwell Atchison Association in Atchison, KS, lists a cash median price of $1,156. This cash rate is significantly higher than the national average for this procedure, which is approximately $381. While commercial insurance plans like Humana and Triwest have negotiated rates starting at $381, other carriers such as Oscar and Multiplan have rates reaching up to $902. Patients should note that while cash payment might appear expensive compared to the lowest negotiated rates, it can still be more cost-effective than insurance if the patient's plan has a high deductible or if the insurance negotiated rate for their specific plan exceeds the cash price. It is always advisable to ask the facility directly about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can lower the total cost.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against Medicare, which sets a fixed rate of $106.81 for this service. The cash median of $1,156 represents a markup of 5.5 times the Medicare amount, reflecting the typical administrative and operational costs associated with commercial billing. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this exact code, the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in a voluntary non-profit setting, which often influences its pricing structure. Consumers should be aware that hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual charges; requesting a full itemized CPT-coded statement is the most effective way to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered. Additionally, under the No Surprises Act, patients are protected from balance billing for out-of-network services