CT scan, abdomen and pelvis (with contrast)
Facility: Susan B Allen Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 74177 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 74177
- Insurance Median: $635
- Cash Discount Price: $741
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.78x 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 $356.43 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $350 | 98% |
| Providrs Care | $919 | 258% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis at Susan B Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado, KS, the cash price is $741.00, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,140.00. While the hospital's negotiated rates with UnitedHealthcare ($350) and Providrs Care ($919) are significantly higher than the cash price, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying out-of-pocket cheaper if their insurance allowed amount exceeds the cash rate. It is important to note that the facility's negotiated rates are 1.8 times the Medicare benchmark of $356.43, indicating a markup typical of commercial contracts. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing costly insurance claims processing.
The data indicates two specific payers with single plan averages, but no state or county average figures were provided for comparison in this report. Consequently, while the cash rate of $741.00 is available for direct comparison against individual insurance allowed amounts, a broader regional context is not included here. Patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency services under the No Surprises Act, though unexpected charges can still occur from out-of-network ancillary services like labs or emergency physicians. If a patient receives a large bill after insurance processing, they should request a full itemized audit to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through formal written disputes.