Nm imaging gastric emptying study at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center

3421 W. 9th St, Waterloo, IA · MercyOne · · NPI 1700827896

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

$982.15

Cash price

?

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.

$1,511.00

Gross charge

?

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.

$355.09 with HEALTH CHOICES vs $1,511.00 with IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH — same scan, same building. Share

Negotiated rates by payer
?

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
?

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
?

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 $355.09 ↓ -64%
MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $355.09 ↓ -64%
MEDIGOLD MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MERCYONE HEALTH PLAN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $376.63 ↓ -62%
MEDICARE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES HEALTH PLANS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $376.63 ↓ -62%
AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $376.63 ↓ -62%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLMARK MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $380.40 ↓ -61%
IOWA TOTAL CARE IOWA TOTAL CARE MEDICAID $382.99 ↓ -61%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $384.16 ↓ -61%
MOLINA MEDICAID MOLINA MEDICAID $386.75 ↓ -61%
HEALTH PARTNERS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE UNITYPOINT HEALTH PARTNERS MEDICARE ADV $388.16 ↓ -60%
WELLPOINT MEDICAID WELLPOINT MEDICAID $388.25 ↓ -60%
WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $392.00 ↓ -60%
BLUE CROSS - MN WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - NE WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - OH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - FL WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - PA (INDEPENDENCE) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - WY WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - KY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - DE (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE SHIELD - ID (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - ND WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - KS WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - MO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - AL WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATORS OF MASSACHUSETTS WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - AR WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - NM WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - ID WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - VT WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
KAISER DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE SHIELD - WA (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - IL WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - VA (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - MD (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - ME (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
WC DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - SC WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - MI WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - MT WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - RI WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - TN WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - FEDERAL WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - NC WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - IL ALTERNATE WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CARE NETWORK WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - AZ WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - HI WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK NORTHEASTERN WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - GA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - VA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - UT (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE SHIELD - CA WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK HMO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - CA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - AK (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - WV (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE DISTINCTION TRANSPLANT WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - DC (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - MA WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - WI (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - NH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - CO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - SD (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - OR (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - NJ (HORIZON) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - PA (CAPITAL) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - WA (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK WESTERN WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - NY (EXCELLUS) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - IN (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE SHIELD - PA (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BCN DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BCBS GENERIC WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - NV (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - OK WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS DOMESTIC WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - NY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - CT (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - MS WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
PRE-EMPLOYMENT WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - LA WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
BLUE CROSS - TX WELLMARK PPO $408.43 ↓ -58%
AMISH HOSPITAL AID AMISH HOSPITAL AID $511.14 ↓ -48%
OSCAR OSCAR $589.81 ↓ -40%
CENTIVO CENTIVO $637.97 ↓ -35%
AMBETTER AMBETTER MARKETPLACE $645.65 ↓ -34%
NOVA CLAIMDOC $772.48 ↓ -21%
CLAIMDOC CLAIMDOC $772.48 ↓ -21%
GEHA UNITED HEALTHCARE $874.53 ↓ -11%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE $874.53 ↓ -11%
HEALTH PARTNERS HEALTH PARTNERS $991.22 ↑ +1%
CIGNA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,072.81 ↑ +9%
MIDLANDS MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,072.81 ↑ +9%
MIDLANDS CHOICE MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,072.81 ↑ +9%
CIGNA EAP MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,072.81 ↑ +9%
MEDICA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,072.81 ↑ +9%
AUXIANT MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $1,072.81 ↑ +9%
WEBTPA AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
FIRST HEALTH AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
AETNA DOMESTIC AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
AETNA EAP AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
AETNA AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
LUCENT HEALTH AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
CHRISTIAN BROTHER SERVICES AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
ASR HEALTH BENEFITS AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
COVENTRY AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
ALLIED BENEFIT SYSTEMS AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
MERITAIN AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
MEDICAL MUTUAL AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
LUMINARE HEALTH AETNA $1,169.17 ↑ +19%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE DEERE PREMIER $1,405.23 ↑ +43%
UNITED HEALTHCARE UHC OPTUM BEHAVIORAL HEALTH $1,511.00 ↑ +54%
IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FOR YOURSELF $1,511.00 ↑ +54%

Visitor-reported prices

visitor-reported
Report what you paid sign in to post

Comments

Add a comment sign in to post

Nm imaging gastric emptying study at other Iowa hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital Waterloo $1,761.34 $34.12 – $1,160.28
MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport $819.60 $384.64 – $538.50
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque $1,613.30 $358.66 – $2,482.00
MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton $1,047.15 $368.14 – $1,611.00
MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines $1,459.25 $377.34 – $2,245.00
MercyOne Centerville Medical Center Centerville $1,905.00 $522.73 – $1,905.00
MercyOne Newton Medical Center Newton $1,238.25 $378.41 – $1,905.00
MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City $1,120.60 $386.82 – $1,724.00

All Iowa hospitals for this procedure →