CT scan, chest (no contrast)
Facility: Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City
Billing Code: 71250 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71250
- Insurance Median: $1,195
- Cash Discount Price: $727
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 11.19x 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 1119% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1019%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $74 - $565 | 69% |
| Cigna | $74 | 69% |
| Humana | $74 | 69% |
| Kaiser | $74 | 69% |
| Kansas Health | $74 | 69% |
| Aetna | $74 - $1,453 | 69% |
| Medicare (plans) | $74 | 69% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $337 | 316% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,195 | 1119% |
| Wpaa | $1,272 | 1191% |
| Multiplan | $1,453 - $1,635 | 1360% |
| Christian Health Aid | $1,453 | 1360% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $1,635 | 1531% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71250 (CT scan, chest, no contrast) at Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City, the facility's cash median price is $727.00, which is significantly lower than the average negotiated rates of $1,195.00 paid by commercial payers. While the facility's negotiated rates range from $74 to $1,635 depending on the insurance plan, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price directly is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, especially since the cash rate is well below the median negotiated amount. It is important to note that the facility's cash price is also lower than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81 when adjusted for the specific context of this service, though the primary comparison for commercial patients remains the negotiated rate versus the cash option.
To minimize costs, patients should explicitly request a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before scheduling the procedure, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. If you receive a summary bill, do not accept it as the final invoice; instead, demand a full itemized statement to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, which are common sources of billing errors. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, you should verify your specific plan's deductible status before proceeding, as paying the full negotiated rate without meeting your deductible can result in higher out-of-pocket expenses than paying the cash price directly.