Pretreat rbc density gradient separation reference at Mercy Hospitals – Bakersfield

2215 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA · CommonSpirit Health · · NPI 1104981661

Source: hospital's published price file ↗ · Published Feb 28, 2026 · Ingested Sep 10, 2026

$74.20

Cash price

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Discounted cash price

What a hospital charges a self-pay patient who pays directly, without going through insurance — usually well below the gross charge.

Example: A CT scan has a $3,200 gross charge but an $850 discounted cash price. Ask for it by name when scheduling — hospitals don't always advertise it up front.

Full explanation →

What you pay up front if you don't use insurance.

$200.00

Gross charge

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Gross charge (chargemaster price)

The hospital's full, undiscounted list price — pulled from its internal "chargemaster" price list. Almost no one actually pays this.

Example: A chest X-ray has a gross charge of $1,450. The same hospital's discounted cash price for the same X-ray is $180 — the gross charge mostly anchors negotiations, not what patients pay.

Full explanation →

The hospital's undiscounted list price — almost no one pays this.

$23.39 with Kern Health System vs $448.00 with Kaiser — same scan, same building. Share

Negotiated rates by payer
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Negotiated rate

The price a specific insurance plan agreed to pay the hospital for a service — it varies by insurer, and even by plan within the same insurer.

Example: The same knee MRI has a negotiated rate of $904 with one insurer's PPO plan and $1,509 with another's — identical hospital, identical scan.

Full explanation →

Payer
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Payer

The insurance company footing the bill — Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare, and so on.

Example: "Blue Cross Blue Shield" is the payer. Its negotiated rate for an MRI might be $904, while a different payer's negotiated rate for the same scan is $1,509.

Full explanation →
Plan
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Plan

The specific product an insurer sells — e.g. "Blue Cross PPO 500" — which sets your deductible, coinsurance and negotiated rates.

Example: Two people both insured by Aetna can owe very different amounts for the same MRI: $50 with an HMO plan's flat copay, or the full $1,200 toward a high-deductible PPO plan's unmet deductible.

Full explanation →
Negotiated rate vs. cash
Kern Health System Medicaid|> 21 $23.39 ↓ -68%
Kern Health System Medicaid|< 21 $23.39 ↓ -68%
LA Care Medicaid|> 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
LA Care Medicaid|< 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
Kaiser Medicaid|> 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
Care 1st Medicaid|> 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
Molina Medicaid|> 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
Partnership Health Plan Medicaid|> 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
Partnership Health Plan Medicaid|< 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
BCBS - Anthem Medicaid|> 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
BCBS - Anthem Medicaid|< 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
Care 1st Medicaid|< 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
Kaiser Medicaid|< 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
Molina Medicaid|< 21 $23.88 ↓ -68%
Health Net Medicaid|GemCare $57.55 ↓ -22%
Health Net Medicaid|Non-GemCare $77.85 ↑ +5%
Western Growers Commercial|All Plans $100.00 ↑ +35%
Aetna Commercial|HMO $113.06 ↑ +52%
Cigna Commercial|All Other Plans $118.35 ↑ +60%
Cigna Commercial|PPO $118.35 ↑ +60%
Aetna Commercial|PPO $118.68 ↑ +60%
BCBS - Anthem Commercial|Exchange $126.00 ↑ +70%
Blue Shield CA Commercial|Exchange $128.00 ↑ +73%
CHN Sun View Commercial|All Plans $130.00 ↑ +75%
First Health Commercial|All Plans $140.00 ↑ +89%
Healthsmart Commercial|All Plans $152.00 ↑ +105%
Blue Shield CA Commercial|All Other Plans $160.00 ↑ +116%
MultiPlan Commercial|All Plans $160.00 ↑ +116%
BCBS - Anthem Commercial|All Other Plans $172.00 ↑ +132%
United Commercial|All Other Plans $178.99 ↑ +141%
United Commercial|Non-Options PPO $178.99 ↑ +141%
United Commercial|Options PPO $178.99 ↑ +141%
United Commercial|HMO $178.99 ↑ +141%
Humana Medicare|All Plans $200.00 ↑ +170%
BCBS - Anthem Medicare|All Plans $200.00 ↑ +170%
BCBS - Anthem Commercial|MCS $200.00 ↑ +170%
HPN Medicare|All Plans $200.00 ↑ +170%
Aetna Medicare|All Plans $200.00 ↑ +170%
Kaiser Medicare|All Plans $200.00 ↑ +170%
United Medicare|All Plans $217.73 ↑ +193%
Blue Shield CA Medicare|All Plans $217.73 ↑ +193%
HPN Commercial|All Plans $220.00 ↑ +196%
Kaiser Commercial|All Plans $448.00 ↑ +504%

Visitor-reported prices

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Pretreat rbc density gradient separation reference at other California hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Bakersfield $73.40 $23.39 – $200.00
Banner Lassen Medical Center Susanville $280.26 $27.47 – $392.85
Arroyo Grande Hospital Santa Maria $141.57 $23.88 – $324.14
Mark Twain Medical Center San Andreas $249.66 $23.88 – $360.64
French Hospital San Luis Obispo $129.66 $23.88 – $324.14
St. Joseph's Behavioral Health Center Stockton $114.20 $20.00 – $160.00
St. Joseph's Medical Center Stockton Stockton $108.20 $23.88 – $200.00
Providence Mission Hospital - Mission Viejo Mission Viejo $36.00 $186.26 – $405.38

All California hospitals for this procedure →