Surgical pathology level 2 gross & microscopic examination at MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center

1755 59th Place, West Des Moines, IA · MercyOne · · NPI 1538395975

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

$271.00

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.

$271.00

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.

$24.96 with UNITED HEALTHCARE vs $271.00 with IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH — 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
UNITED HEALTHCARE UNITED HEALTHCARE $24.96 ↓ -91%
GEHA UNITED HEALTHCARE $24.96 ↓ -91%
IOWA TOTAL CARE IOWA TOTAL CARE MEDICAID $35.25 ↓ -87%
MEDICARE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES HEALTH PLANS MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $35.35 ↓ -87%
AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AETNA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $35.35 ↓ -87%
MEDIGOLD MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MERCYONE HEALTH PLAN MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $35.35 ↓ -87%
MOLINA MEDICAID MOLINA MEDICAID $35.60 ↓ -87%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLMARK MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $35.71 ↓ -87%
WELLPOINT MEDICAID WELLPOINT MEDICAID $35.74 ↓ -87%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $36.06 ↓ -87%
HEALTH PARTNERS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE UNITYPOINT HEALTH PARTNERS MEDICARE ADV $36.44 ↓ -87%
WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE WELLPOINT MEDICARE ADVANTAGE $36.80 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - OH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - FL WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - PA (INDEPENDENCE) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - WY WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - KY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - DE (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE SHIELD - ID (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - ND WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - KS WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - MO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - AL WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - PA (CAPITAL) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - AR WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - NM WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - ID WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - VT WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE SHIELD - WA (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - IL WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - VA (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - MD (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - ME (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - MN WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - NE WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - TX WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - SC WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - MI WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - MT WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - RI WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - TN WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - FEDERAL WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - NC WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - IL ALTERNATE WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CARE NETWORK WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - AZ WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - HI WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK NORTHEASTERN WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - GA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - VA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - UT (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE SHIELD - CA WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK HMO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - IA (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - CA (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - AK (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - WV (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE DISTINCTION TRANSPLANT WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - DC (CAREFIRST) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - MA WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - WI (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - NH (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - CO (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - SD (WELLMARK) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - OR (REGENCE) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - NJ (HORIZON) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE BENEFIT ADMINISTRATORS OF MASSACHUSETTS WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - WA (PREMERA) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE SHIELD - NY HIGHMARK WESTERN WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - NY (EXCELLUS) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - IN (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE SHIELD - PA (HIGHMARK) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BCBS GENERIC WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - NV (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - OK WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - NY (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - CT (ANTHEM) WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - MS WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
BLUE CROSS - LA WELLMARK PPO $38.16 ↓ -86%
AMISH HOSPITAL AID AMISH HOSPITAL AID $47.98 ↓ -82%
OSCAR OSCAR $51.26 ↓ -81%
CENTIVO CENTIVO $52.06 ↓ -81%
HEALTH CHOICES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $54.47 ↓ -80%
MEDICAL ASSOCIATES MEDICAL ASSOCIATES $54.47 ↓ -80%
AMBETTER AMBETTER MARKETPLACE $60.61 ↓ -78%
CLAIMDOC CLAIMDOC $72.51 ↓ -73%
NOVA CLAIMDOC $72.51 ↓ -73%
LUMINARE HEALTH AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
1199 NATIONAL BENEFIT FUND AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
FIRST HEALTH AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
AETNA DOMESTIC AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
AETNA AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
LUCENT HEALTH AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
COVENTRY AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
ALLIED BENEFIT SYSTEMS AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
MERITAIN AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
WEBTPA AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
TRUSTMARK SMALL BUSINESS BENEFITS AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
CHRISTIAN BROTHER SERVICES AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
MEDICAL MUTUAL AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
ASR HEALTH BENEFITS AETNA $94.04 ↓ -65%
CIGNA EAP CIGNA $162.60 ↓ -40%
CIGNA CIGNA $162.60 ↓ -40%
HEALTH PARTNERS HEALTH PARTNERS $172.09 ↓ -36%
MIDLANDS MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $176.15 ↓ -35%
MIDLANDS CHOICE MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $176.15 ↓ -35%
AUXIANT MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $176.15 ↓ -35%
MEDICA MIDLANDS CHOICE PPO $176.15 ↓ -35%
USA MANAGED CARE USA MANAGED CARE $230.35 ↓ -15%
CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE CRIME VICTIMS $271.00 ↑ +0%
IOWA DEPT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FOR YOURSELF $271.00 ↑ +0%

Visitor-reported prices

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Surgical pathology level 2 gross & microscopic examination at other Iowa hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
MercyOne Genesis Davenport West Medical Center Davenport $66.60 $37.57 – $52.60
MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center Dubuque $144.95 $4.26 – $223.00
MercyOne Dyersville Medical Center Dyersville $116.35 $67.66 – $201.48
MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Clinton $144.95 $24.96 – $170.00
MercyOne Cedar Falls Medical Center Cedar Falls $124.15 $24.96 – $191.00
MercyOne Elkader Medical Center Elkader $116.35 $92.13 – $187.09
MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines $176.15 $24.96 – $271.00
MercyOne Centerville Medical Center Centerville $179.00 $49.12 – $179.00

All Iowa hospitals for this procedure →