Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital Inc
Billing Code: 29881 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 29881
- Insurance Median: $2,367
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.71x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $2,367 | 71% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the procedure "Knee arthroscopy with meniscus repair" at Ascension Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital Inc in Wichita, KS, the facility's negotiated rate with Aetna is $2,367. This amount aligns exactly with the low and high ends of the reported range for this payer. While the facility is a Part A provider, the data does not include a specific cash or median paid amount for this service, meaning patients cannot yet determine if paying out-of-pocket directly would be cheaper than using insurance. Generally, cash-pay options can be more affordable for patients with high-deductible plans if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price, so it is advisable to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling.
To understand the value of this rate, it is helpful to compare it against the Medicare benchmark, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care. In this case, the facility's negotiated rate of $2,367 is 70% of the Medicare amount of $3,342.87, indicating that the commercial rate is significantly lower than the federal reimbursement standard. This comparison highlights that the facility is charging below the Medicare benchmark, which is a strong indicator of fair pricing. Consumers should be aware that hospitals often inflate their chargemaster lists to make discounts appear larger, so comparing rates to the Medicare amount rather than the list price provides a clearer picture of actual costs.