Arthrocentesis/aspiration/injection intermediate joint/bursa w/ultrasound guidance (both sides) at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center

1111 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA · MercyOne · Nonprofit · NPI 1234567893

Source: hospital's published price file ↗ · Published Mar 31, 2026 · Ingested Aug 3, 2026

$1,924.00

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.

$2,960.00

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.

$396.57 with HEALTH CHOICES vs $1,973.00 with CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE — 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
HEALTH CHOICES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $396.57 ↓ -79%
MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $396.57 ↓ -79%
IOWA TOTAL CARE IOWA TOTAL CARE MEDICAID $666.27 ↓ -65%
MEDIGOLD MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MERCYONE HEALTH PLAN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $668.16 ↓ -65%
AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $668.16 ↓ -65%
MEDICARE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES HEALTH PLANS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $668.16 ↓ -65%
MOLINA MEDICAID MOLINA MEDICAID $672.81 ↓ -65%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLMARK MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $674.84 ↓ -65%
WELLPOINT MEDICAID WELLPOINT MEDICAID $675.42 ↓ -65%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $681.52 ↓ -65%
TRUSTMARK SMALL BUSINESS BENEFITS AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
COVENTRY AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
ALLIED BENEFIT SYSTEMS AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
LUCENT HEALTH AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
AETNA AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
MEDICAL MUTUAL AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
ASR HEALTH BENEFITS AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
1199 NATIONAL BENEFIT FUND AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
FIRST HEALTH AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
LUMINARE HEALTH AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
CHRISTIAN BROTHER SERVICES AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
AETNA DOMESTIC AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
MERITAIN AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
WEBTPA AETNA $684.63 ↓ -64%
WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $695.43 ↓ -64%
BLUE CROSS - NY (EXCELLUS) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - IN (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE SHIELD - PA (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BCBS GENERIC WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - NV (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - OK WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - PA (CAPITAL) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - AR WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - NM WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - ID WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - VT WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE SHIELD - WA (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - IL WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - VA (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - MD (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - ME (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - MN WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - NE WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - OH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - FL WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - PA (INDEPENDENCE) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - WY WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - KY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - DE (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE SHIELD - ID (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - ND WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - KS WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - MO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - AL WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - WA (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK WESTERN WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - VA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - UT (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE SHIELD - CA WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK HMO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - CA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - AK (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - WV (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE DISTINCTION TRANSPLANT WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - DC (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - MA WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - WI (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - NH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - CO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - SD (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - OR (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - NJ (HORIZON) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATORS OF MASSACHUSETTS WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - NY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - CT (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - MS WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - LA WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - TX WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - SC WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - MI WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - MT WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - RI WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - TN WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - FEDERAL WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - NC WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - IL ALTERNATE WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CARE NETWORK WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - AZ WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - HI WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK NORTHEASTERN WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
BLUE CROSS - GA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $721.17 ↓ -63%
AMISH HOSPITAL AID AMISH HOSPITAL AID $906.79 ↓ -53%
OSCAR OSCAR $968.83 ↓ -50%
CENTIVO CENTIVO $983.83 ↓ -49%
AMBETTER AMBETTER MARKETPLACE $1,145.41 ↓ -40%
CIGNA CIGNA $1,183.80 ↓ -38%
CIGNA EAP CIGNA $1,183.80 ↓ -38%
HEALTH PARTNERS HEALTH PARTNERS $1,252.86 ↓ -35%
MIDLANDS CHOICE MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,282.45 ↓ -33%
MIDLANDS MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,282.45 ↓ -33%
AUXIANT MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,282.45 ↓ -33%
MEDICA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,282.45 ↓ -33%
NOVA CLAIMDOC $1,370.41 ↓ -29%
CLAIMDOC CLAIMDOC $1,370.41 ↓ -29%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE DEERE PREMIER $1,637.59 ↓ -15%
USA MANAGED CARE USA MANAGED CARE $1,677.05 ↓ -13%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UHC OPTUM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH $1,973.00 ↑ +3%
IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FOR YOURSELF $1,973.00 ↑ +3%
CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE CRIME VICTIMS $1,973.00 ↑ +3%

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Arthrocentesis/aspiration/injection intermediate joint/bursa w/ultrasound guidance (both sides) at other Iowa hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
UnityPoint Health - Iowa Lutheran Hospital Des Moines $484.17 $46.97 – $667.21
MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport $501.60 $543.40 – $662.89
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque $1,326.00 $485.52 – $1,410.41
MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center New Hampton $206.05 $83.53 – $211.00
MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton $1,992.25 $14.27 – $2,043.00
MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City $1,630.20 $16.62 – $1,672.00
MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport $579.60 $627.90 – $662.89
MercyOne Genesis DeWitt Medical Center DeWitt $579.60 $135.78 – $328.44

All Iowa hospitals for this procedure →