Specimen fat stain at Methodist Charlton Medical Center

3500 W Wheatland Road, Dallas, TX · Methodisthealthsystem · · NPI 1275592131

Source: hospital's published price file ↗ · Published Mar 21, 2026 · Ingested Sep 17, 2026

$11.50

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.

$23.00

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.

$4.69 with UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICAID MANAGED CARE [5015] vs $20.21 with MOLINA MEDICAID MANAGED CARE [5005] — 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 MEDICAID MANAGED CARE [5015] MHS HB UNITED MEDICAID STAR PLUS MCMC $4.69 ↓ -59%
MEDICAID [4000] MHS HB TEXAS HEALTHY WOMEN MCMC $4.94 ↓ -57%
WELLCARE [7016] MHS HB MANAGED MEDICARE PART A & B MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
UST HEALTH PROOF [1005] MHS HB UHC MEDICARE COMPLETE MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7010] MHS HB UHC MEDICARE DIRECT MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7010] MHS HB UHC MEDICARE COMPLETE MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [3044] MHS HB UHC MEDICARE COMPLETE MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
BCBS MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7002] MHS HB BCBS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
UHC AARP SECURE HORIZONS [7023] MHS HB MANAGED MEDICARE PART A & B MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
TEXAN PLUS HMO MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7009] MHS HB MANAGED MEDICARE PART A & B MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
SUPERIOR MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7008] MHS HB MANAGED MEDICARE PART A & B MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
GENERIC MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7004] MHS HB MANAGED MEDICARE PART A & B MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
COVID19 HRSA UNINSURED TESTING AND TREATMENT FUND [6005] MHS HB UNINSURED COVID-19 MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
AETNA MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7000] MHS HB AETNA GOLDEN MCMC $5.88 ↓ -49%
MUTUAL OF OMAHA MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7019] MHS HB MUTUAL OF OMAHA MCMC $6.00 ↓ -48%
MOLINA MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7007] MHS HB MOLINA MEDICARE MCMC $6.17 ↓ -46%
AMERICAN HEALTH ADVANTAGE OF TEXAS [7099] MHS HB 105% MEDICARE MCMC $6.17 ↓ -46%
CARE N CARE MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7003] MHS HB SCOTT AND WHITE MEDICARE MCMC $6.17 ↓ -46%
CIGNA MEDICARE [7011] MHS HB 105% MEDICARE MCMC $6.17 ↓ -46%
GLOBALHEALTH [1003] MHS HB GLOBAL HEALTH MCMC $6.17 ↓ -46%
PROCARE ADVANTAGE [7018] MHS HB SCOTT AND WHITE MEDICARE MCMC $6.17 ↓ -46%
SCOTT AND WHITE MEDICARE [9911] MHS HB SCOTT AND WHITE MEDICARE MCMC $6.17 ↓ -46%
BCBS MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7002] MHS HB MANAGED MEDICARE 106% MCMC $6.23 ↓ -46%
CIGNA MEDICARE [7011] MHS HB UHC WELLMED MCMC $6.23 ↓ -46%
HUMANA COMMERCIAL [2051] MHS HB HUMANA MEDICARE MCMC $6.23 ↓ -46%
HUMANA MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7005] MHS HB HUMANA MEDICARE MCMC $6.23 ↓ -46%
HUMANA MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7005] MHS HB UHC WELLMED MCMC $6.23 ↓ -46%
HUMANA MEDICARE TRANSPLANT [7013] MHS HB HUMANA MEDICARE MCMC $6.23 ↓ -46%
OPTUM TRANSPLANT NETWORK MEDICARE [7012] MHS HB MANAGED MEDICARE 106% MCMC $6.23 ↓ -46%
SOUTHWESTERN HEALTH RESOURCES SWHR [7015] MHS HB MANAGED MEDICARE 106% MCMC $6.23 ↓ -46%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7010] MHS HB UHC WELLMED MCMC $6.23 ↓ -46%
WELLPOINT MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7001] MHS HB MANAGED MEDICARE 106% MCMC $6.23 ↓ -46%
UNITED HEALTHCARE MANAGED CARE [3021] MHS HB UHC EXCHANGE MCMC $6.29 ↓ -45%
MULTIPLAN MEDICARE MANAGED CARE [7022] MHS HB MULTIPLAN ADVANTAGE MCMC $6.29 ↓ -45%
PROVIDER PARTNERS HEALTH PLAN [7025] MHS HB PROVIDERS PARTNER HEALTH MCMC $6.35 ↓ -45%
CORALVITA [9216] MHS HB VIBRA MRMC MCMC MDMC $7.06 ↓ -39%
ALTERNATIVE SERVICE CONCEPTS [8005] MHS HB CITY OF PLANO MCMC $7.35 ↓ -36%
OSCAR INSURANCE COMPANY [2057] MHS HB OSCAR HMO MCMC $7.64 ↓ -34%
BRIGHT HEALTHCARE [2222] MHS HB BRIGHT HEALTH MCMC $8.23 ↓ -28%
MOLINA [3017] MHS HB MOLINA MARKETPLACE MCMC $8.53 ↓ -26%
WELLPOINT MARKETPLACE EXCHANGE [3071] MHS HB WELLPOINT TEXAS ESSENTIALS MCMC $9.11 ↓ -21%
BCBS [3001] MHS HB BCBS MY BLUE HEALTH MCMC $9.29 ↓ -19%
KEMPTON GROUP ADMINISTRATORS, TOWER EXTRUSIONS [3061] MHS HB TOWER EXTRUSIONS MCMC $9.41 ↓ -18%
AETNA [3000] MHS HB AETNA EXCHANGE MCMC $9.53 ↓ -17%
AETNA [3000] MHS HB AETNA CVS MCMC $9.53 ↓ -17%
ALLIED NATIONAL [2031] MHS HB 90 DEGREE MCMC $9.70 ↓ -16%
90 DEGREE BENEFIT [3057] MHS HB 90 DEGREE MCMC $9.70 ↓ -16%
ENTRUST/90 DEGREE [2058] MHS HB 90 DEGREE MCMC $9.70 ↓ -16%
FRIDAY HEALTH PLAN [2061] MHS HB FRIDAY HEALTH MCMC $10.00 ↓ -13%
AMBETTER SUPERIOR [3051] MHS HB AMBETTER SUPERIOR MCMC $10.05 ↓ -13%
IMPERIAL INSURANCE COMPANIES [3073] MHS HB IMPERIAL MANAGED CARE MCMC $10.58 ↓ -8%
WEB TPA [3049] MHS HB CUSTOM INK MCMC $10.88 ↓ -5%
CIGNA [3004] MHS HB CUSTOM INK MCMC $10.88 ↓ -5%
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR [8004] MHS HB WORKERS COMP MCMC $11.76 ↑ +2%
VELOCITY [3070] MHS HB VELOCITY MCMC $11.76 ↑ +2%
SANA BENEFITS [3069] MHS HB SANA MCMC $11.76 ↑ +2%
GENERIC WORKERS COMP TX PAR [9011] MHS HB WORKERS COMP MCMC $11.76 ↑ +2%
EVRY HEALTH [1013] MHS HB EVRY MCMC $11.76 ↑ +2%
GENERIC WORKERS COMP TX NON PAR [9010] MHS HB WORKERS COMP MCMC $11.76 ↑ +2%
GENERIC WORKERS COMP TX PAR [8002] MHS HB WORKERS COMP MCMC $11.76 ↑ +2%
HEALTH PLANS INC [5017] MHS HB EMPLOYERS HEALTH NETWORK MCMC $14.70 ↑ +28%
MEDICAL COST CONTAINMENT PROFESSIONALS [3059] MHS HB MEDICAL COST CONTAINMENT MCMC $14.70 ↑ +28%
HEALTHSCOPE BENEFITS [2052] MHS HB DART MEMBER CARE MCMC $15.88 ↑ +38%
DART MEMBER CARE [3039] MHS HB DART MEMBER CARE MCMC $15.88 ↑ +38%
HEALTHSCOPE BENEFITS [3063] MHS HB DART MEMBER CARE MCMC $15.88 ↑ +38%
BCBS [3001] MHS HB BCBS PREMIER MCMC $16.41 ↑ +43%
BCBS [3001] MHS HB BCBS HIGH PERFORMANCE NETWORK MCMC $16.41 ↑ +43%
BCBS [3001] MHS HB BCBS CITY OF DALLAS MCMC $17.05 ↑ +48%
BCBS [3001] MHS HB BCBS HMO MCMC $17.40 ↑ +51%
BCBS [3001] MHS HB BCBS PPO MCMC $18.93 ↑ +65%
BCBS [3001] MHS HB BCBS TRADITIONAL MCMC $18.93 ↑ +65%
SUPERIOR MEDICAID MANAGED CARE [5007] MHS HB MEDICAID 110% STAR PLUS MCMC $20.21 ↑ +76%
MOLINA MEDICAID MANAGED CARE [5005] MHS HB MEDICAID 110% STAR PLUS MCMC $20.21 ↑ +76%

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Specimen fat stain at other Texas hospitals

Hospital City Cash price Negotiated range
Methodist Dallas Medical Center Dallas $11.50 $4.69 – $26.76
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas Dallas not published $4.94 – $8.48
MEDICAL CITY GREEN OAKS HOSPITAL DALLAS not published $5.88 – $15.41
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - BRENHAM Brenham $28.52 $5.87 – $42.79
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - BUDA Suite 110 $27.68 $4.94 – $34.60
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE MEDICAL CENTER - COLLEGE STATION College Station $28.52 $5.29 – $42.79
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE CONTINUING CARE HOSPITAL Temple $28.52 $4.94 – $42.79
BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE EMERGENCY MEDICAL CENTER - CEDAR PARK Cedar Park $27.68 $4.94 – $41.53

All Texas hospitals for this procedure →