Consultation pathology during surgery frozen section first tissue block 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

$216.45

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.

$333.00

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.

$35.88 with IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH vs $333.00 with UNITED HEALTHCARE — 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
IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FOR YOURSELF $35.88 ↓ -83%
HEALTH CHOICES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $66.93 ↓ -69%
MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $66.93 ↓ -69%
1199 NATIONAL BENEFIT FUND AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
FIRST HEALTH AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
AETNA AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
WEBTPA AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
ASR HEALTH BENEFITS AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
MEDICAL MUTUAL AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
LUMINARE HEALTH AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
AETNA DOMESTIC AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
CHRISTIAN BROTHER SERVICES AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
COVENTRY AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
ALLIED BENEFIT SYSTEMS AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
TRUSTMARK SMALL BUSINESS BENEFITS AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
MERITAIN AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
LUCENT HEALTH AETNA $115.55 ↓ -47%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE OPTIONS $157.25 ↓ -27%
GEHA UNITED HEALTHCARE $157.25 ↓ -27%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE $157.25 ↓ -27%
IOWA TOTAL CARE IOWA TOTAL CARE MEDICAID $160.81 ↓ -26%
AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $161.27 ↓ -25%
MEDIGOLD MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MERCYONE HEALTH PLAN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $161.27 ↓ -25%
MEDICARE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES HEALTH PLANS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $161.27 ↓ -25%
MOLINA MEDICAID MOLINA MEDICAID $162.39 ↓ -25%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLMARK MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $162.88 ↓ -25%
WELLPOINT MEDICAID WELLPOINT MEDICAID $163.02 ↓ -25%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $164.49 ↓ -24%
WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $167.85 ↓ -22%
BLUE CROSS - NV (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - OK WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - NY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - CT (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - MS WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - LA WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - PA (CAPITAL) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - AR WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - NM WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - ID WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - VT WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE SHIELD - WA (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - IL WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - VA (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - MD (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - ME (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - MN WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - NE WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - OH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - FL WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - PA (INDEPENDENCE) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - WY WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - KY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - DE (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE SHIELD - ID (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - ND WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - KS WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - MO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - AL WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - WA (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK WESTERN WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - NY (EXCELLUS) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - IN (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE SHIELD - PA (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BCBS GENERIC WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - UT (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE SHIELD - CA WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK HMO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - CA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - AK (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - WV (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE DISTINCTION TRANSPLANT WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - DC (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - MA WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - WI (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - NH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - CO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - SD (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - OR (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - NJ (HORIZON) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATORS OF MASSACHUSETTS WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - TX WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - SC WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - MI WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - MT WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - RI WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - TN WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - FEDERAL WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - NC WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - IL ALTERNATE WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CARE NETWORK WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - AZ WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - HI WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK NORTHEASTERN WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - GA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
BLUE CROSS - VA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $174.06 ↓ -20%
CIGNA CIGNA $199.80 ↓ -8%
CIGNA EAP CIGNA $199.80 ↓ -8%
HEALTH PARTNERS HEALTH PARTNERS $211.46 ↓ -2%
AUXIANT MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $216.45 ↑ +0%
MEDICA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $216.45 ↑ +0%
MIDLANDS MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $216.45 ↑ +0%
MIDLANDS CHOICE MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $216.45 ↑ +0%
AMISH HOSPITAL AID AMISH HOSPITAL AID $218.86 ↑ +1%
OSCAR OSCAR $233.83 ↑ +8%
CENTIVO CENTIVO $237.45 ↑ +10%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE DEERE PREMIER $276.39 ↑ +28%
AMBETTER AMBETTER MARKETPLACE $276.45 ↑ +28%
USA MANAGED CARE USA MANAGED CARE $283.05 ↑ +31%
NOVA CLAIMDOC $330.76 ↑ +53%
CLAIMDOC CLAIMDOC $330.76 ↑ +53%
CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE CRIME VICTIMS $333.00 ↑ +54%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UHC OPTUM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH $333.00 ↑ +54%

Visitor-reported prices

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Consultation pathology during surgery frozen section first tissue block at other Iowa hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
UnityPoint Health - Iowa Lutheran Hospital Des Moines $198.40 $31.58 – $165.10
MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport $66.00 $57.20 – $164.03
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque $203.45 $33.03 – $340.41
MercyOne Dyersville Medical Center Dyersville $173.00 $33.03 – $221.74
MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton $203.45 $88.58 – $364.58
MercyOne Cedar Falls Medical Center Cedar Falls $274.95 $92.09 – $329.20
MercyOne Elkader Medical Center Elkader $128.05 $92.09 – $205.90
MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines $333.00 $35.88 – $333.00

All Iowa hospitals for this procedure →