CMS Price Transparency Data

Heart stent placement (inpatient stay)

Facility: Northern Louisiana Medical Center

Billing Code: 322 (MS-DRG)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$16,438

about 1.3× the $12,807 Medicare rate · typically $12,160–$20,418

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$19,585

Above the fair price

about $3,147 over the fair price · 1.5× Medicare

Medicare pays $12,807 Fair price $16,438 This hospital $19,585

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other LA hospitals

Highest price of the 9 LA hospitals we have prices for — worth calling around.

Cheapest $10,538 Priciest $19,585

Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 LA hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.

A fair price for a Heart stent placement (inpatient stay) is about $16,438 (about 1.3× the $12,807 Medicare rate). Northern Louisiana Medical Center charges insurers about $19,585 — above the fair price. Located in Ruston, LA.

This price is above the fair BaseRate — you may be able to pay less

Ask the hospital for the cash / self-pay price, check whether you qualify for financial assistance, or negotiate the bill down toward the fair price of about $16,438. Many patients pay well below the first number they’re quoted — the checklists below walk you through it.

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

4 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Aetna✓ Humana CignaKaiser Permanente

Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.

Insurance company	Price range	vs. Medicare
UnitedHealthcaremajor	$19,585	153%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$11,634 - $22,336	91%
Aetnamajor	$11,107	87%
Humanamajor	$11,634	91%
+ 7 smaller / regional plans	$9,307 - $22,104

Government programs also on file: Medicare, Military & VA.

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

Tell the billing desk you want to be billed as self-pay — not through insurance — before your visit.
Ask for the cash / prompt-pay discount in writing, with the exact price, before you agree to anything.
Get it in writing that they won’t also bill your insurance, so the cash price is what you owe.
Check the MS-DRG code on your bill matches exactly: 322.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm Northern Louisiana Medical Center is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for MS-DRG code 322.
Confirm the doctor or provider is in-network too — not just the hospital building.
Check your Explanation of Benefits against the hospital’s final itemized bill.

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost

A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.

How you’d pay

Deductible left to meet ($)

Your coinsurance (%)

Enter your details and press estimate to compare.

Other Procedures at Northern Louisiana Medical Center

Compare: Heart stent placement (inpatient stay) at other LA hospitals

St Tammany Parish Hospital · Covington $10,538
Winn Parish Medical Center · Winnfield $11,131
Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital · Lafayette $11,306
Christus Ochsner Lake Area Hospital · Lake Charles $11,367
Oakdale Community Hospital · Oakdale $11,446
Byrd Regional Hospital · Leesville $11,527
Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital · Lake Charles $11,563
Sabine Medical Center · Many $11,622

Insurance negotiated median for the same procedure, sorted lowest first.