Enzyme histochemistry 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

$652.60

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.

$1,004.00

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.

$201.80 with MEDICAL ASSOCIATES vs $1,564.16 with NOVA — 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
MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $201.80 ↓ -69%
HEALTH CHOICES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $201.80 ↓ -69%
1199 NATIONAL BENEFIT FUND AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
FIRST HEALTH AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
TRUSTMARK SMALL BUSINESS BENEFITS AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
MERITAIN AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
LUCENT HEALTH AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
AETNA DOMESTIC AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
WEBTPA AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
LUMINARE HEALTH AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
AETNA AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
ASR HEALTH BENEFITS AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
CHRISTIAN BROTHER SERVICES AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
COVENTRY AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
ALLIED BENEFIT SYSTEMS AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
MEDICAL MUTUAL AETNA $348.39 ↓ -47%
CIGNA CIGNA $602.40 ↓ -8%
CIGNA EAP CIGNA $602.40 ↓ -8%
HEALTH PARTNERS HEALTH PARTNERS $637.54 ↓ -2%
MIDLANDS MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $652.60 ↑ +0%
AUXIANT MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $652.60 ↑ +0%
MEDICA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $652.60 ↑ +0%
MIDLANDS CHOICE MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $652.60 ↑ +0%
IOWA TOTAL CARE IOWA TOTAL CARE MEDICAID $760.47 ↑ +17%
MEDICARE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES HEALTH PLANS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $762.62 ↑ +17%
MEDIGOLD MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MERCYONE HEALTH PLAN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $762.62 ↑ +17%
AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $762.62 ↑ +17%
MOLINA MEDICAID MOLINA MEDICAID $767.92 ↑ +18%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLMARK MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $770.25 ↑ +18%
WELLPOINT MEDICAID WELLPOINT MEDICAID $770.90 ↑ +18%
GEHA UNITED HEALTHCARE $776.51 ↑ +19%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE $776.51 ↑ +19%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE OPTIONS $776.51 ↑ +19%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $777.88 ↑ +19%
WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $793.75 ↑ +22%
BLUE CROSS - TX WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - SC WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - MI WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - MT WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - RI WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - TN WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - FEDERAL WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - NC WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - IL ALTERNATE WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CARE NETWORK WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - AZ WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - HI WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK NORTHEASTERN WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - PA (CAPITAL) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - AR WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - NM WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - ID WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - VT WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE SHIELD - WA (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - IL WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - VA (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - MD (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - ME (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - MN WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - NE WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - OH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - FL WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - PA (INDEPENDENCE) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - WY WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - KY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - DE (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE SHIELD - ID (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - ND WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - KS WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - MO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - AL WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - WA (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK WESTERN WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - NY (EXCELLUS) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - IN (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE SHIELD - PA (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BCBS GENERIC WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - NV (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - OK WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - NY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - CT (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - MS WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - LA WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - WV (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE DISTINCTION TRANSPLANT WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - DC (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - MA WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - WI (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - NH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - CO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - SD (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - OR (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - NJ (HORIZON) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATORS OF MASSACHUSETTS WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - GA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - VA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - UT (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE SHIELD - CA WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK HMO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - CA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
BLUE CROSS - AK (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $823.13 ↑ +26%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE DEERE PREMIER $833.32 ↑ +28%
USA MANAGED CARE USA MANAGED CARE $853.40 ↑ +31%
CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE CRIME VICTIMS $1,004.00 ↑ +54%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UHC OPTUM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH $1,004.00 ↑ +54%
IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FOR YOURSELF $1,004.00 ↑ +54%
AMISH HOSPITAL AID AMISH HOSPITAL AID $1,034.99 ↑ +59%
OSCAR OSCAR $1,105.80 ↑ +69%
CENTIVO CENTIVO $1,122.92 ↑ +72%
AMBETTER AMBETTER MARKETPLACE $1,307.35 ↑ +100%
CLAIMDOC CLAIMDOC $1,564.16 ↑ +140%
NOVA CLAIMDOC $1,564.16 ↑ +140%

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Enzyme histochemistry at other Iowa hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
UnityPoint Health - Iowa Lutheran Hospital Des Moines $786.52 $24.38 – $787.05
MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport $418.80 $453.70 – $781.95
MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines $1,004.00 $201.80 – $1,564.16
MercyOne Genesis Davenport Medical Center Davenport $466.20 $505.05 – $781.95
UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital Waterloo $786.52 $24.38 – $677.11
UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital Dubuque $786.52 $24.38 – $786.52
UnityPoint Health - Grinnell Regional Medical Center Grinnell $786.52 $24.38 – $812.79
UnityPoint Health - Jones Regional Medical Center Anamosa $786.52 $24.38 – $872.05

All Iowa hospitals for this procedure →