Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in South Dakota
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
South Dakota's rural healthcare infrastructure spans vast distances, with many residents traveling significant miles to access specialized imaging services. Patients seeking a Chest CT Scan typically pay between $134 and $222, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $171 based on negotiated insurance rates. The state maintains 321 active Chest CT Scan providers across urban centers like Sioux Falls and Rapid City, as well as smaller regional facilities, allowing patients to browse all providers in South Dakota for the most convenient and affordable option.
Average
$175
Median
$171
Lowest
$134
Highest
$222
Providers
321
42% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does ct chest compare to related procedures in South Dakota?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $247 | $552 | $552 | 321 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $130 | $327 | $327 | 320 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $142 | $368 | $368 | 323 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $79 | $268 | $2,156 | 88 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 71260 — CT chest with contrast). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 71260 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 71260 (CT chest with contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 71260 covers: the provider's professional fee for ct chest. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why Chest CT Scan Visit Costs Vary Across South Dakota
South Dakota's Chest CT Scan costs run approximately 3% above national averages, reflecting the state's rural geography and lower population density that creates unique economic pressures on healthcare delivery. The state's vast distances between population centers require facilities to maintain expensive equipment with lower patient volumes, driving up per-procedure costs compared to urban markets.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Sioux Falls and Rapid City anchor South Dakota's imaging services with multiple competing facilities, while rural areas often depend on single critical access hospitals or must refer patients to distant urban centers. This geographic disparity creates significant cost and access differences, with rural facilities often charging premium rates due to lower patient volumes and higher operational costs per procedure. Many rural residents face additional expenses for travel and lodging when seeking specialized imaging services.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based outpatient imaging departments typically charge facility fees in addition to professional fees, making them more expensive than independent imaging centers throughout South Dakota. Major health systems like Sanford Health and Monument Health operate networks of imaging facilities with standardized pricing, while smaller independent centers may offer more competitive cash-pay rates. Critical access hospitals in rural areas often have the highest overhead costs due to regulatory requirements and lower patient volumes.
Insurance Market Competition in South Dakota
The state's insurance market is dominated by Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Sanford Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare, creating limited competition that can result in higher negotiated rates compared to more competitive markets. This concentration means fewer provider network options for consumers, particularly in rural areas where single facilities may hold significant bargaining power with insurers. The lack of robust competition allows both insurers and providers to maintain higher pricing structures than might exist in more competitive markets.
Physician Supply and Demand in South Dakota
With 321 active Chest CT Scan providers serving a population of approximately 895,000, South Dakota maintains adequate imaging capacity in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions. This geographic maldistribution creates longer wait times and higher costs in underserved areas, as patients may need to travel to urban centers or pay premium rates at rural facilities. The state's physician recruitment challenges, particularly for specialists, contribute to sustained higher pricing for imaging services compared to areas with physician oversupply.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Chest CT Scan Costs in South Dakota
What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in South Dakota without insurance?
Does South Dakota Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?
How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in South Dakota?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Chest CT Scan visit in South Dakota?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in South Dakota?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 71260)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota Range: $118 – $7,881 | $2,723 |
| 2 | Minnesota Range: $80 – $7,881 | $2,711 |
| 3 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $863 | $363 |
| 4 | Georgia Range: $61 – $699 | $319 |
| 5 | Wyoming Range: $54 – $598 | $287 |
| 6 | Nevada Range: $80 – $453 | $272 |
| 7 | Maine Range: $93 – $439 | $262 |
| 8 | Nebraska Range: $108 – $415 | $246 |
| 9 | Hawaii Range: $67 – $348 | $243 |
| 10 | New Mexico Range: $52 – $505 | $242 |
| 11 | Iowa Range: $73 – $424 | $237 |
| 12 | Vermont Range: $49 – $516 | $236 |
| 13 | North Carolina Range: $60 – $443 | $233 |
| 14 | New Hampshire Range: $67 – $446 | $232 |
| 15 | Massachusetts Range: $64 – $454 | $230 |
| 16 | Rhode Island Range: $54 – $454 | $226 |
| 17 | Alaska Range: $54 – $449 | $224 |
| 18 | District of Columbia Range: $49 – $454 | $223 |
| 19 | Colorado Range: $55 – $441 | $218 |
| 20 | Utah Range: $54 – $374 | $212 |
| 21 | California Range: $25 – $521 | $210 |
| 22 | Indiana Range: $54 – $411 | $206 |
| 23 | New York Range: $42 – $443 | $205 |
| 24 | Washington Range: $54 – $384 | $203 |
| 25 | Michigan Range: $57 – $356 | $195 |
| 26 | Illinois Range: $64 – $346 | $192 |
| 27 | Tennessee Range: $61 – $333 | $188 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania Range: $50 – $389 | $185 |
| 29 | West Virginia Range: $64 – $317 | $184 |
| 30 | Virginia Range: $41 – $371 | $182 |
| 31 | Idaho Range: $54 – $321 | $182 |
| 32 | New Jersey Range: $41 – $371 | $181 |
| 33 | Connecticut Range: $54 – $389 | $179 |
| 34 | Texas Range: $54 – $345 | $178 |
| 35 | South Carolina Range: $54 – $339 | $178 |
| 36 | Kansas Range: $59 – $324 | $178 |
| 37 | Oregon Range: $70 – $291 | $177 |
| 38 | South Dakota Range: $134 – $222 | $175 |
| 39 | Alabama Range: $48 – $332 | $173 |
| 40 | Delaware Range: $61 – $273 | $170 |
| 41 | Louisiana Range: $48 – $288 | $169 |
| 42 | Kentucky Range: $54 – $335 | $169 |
| 43 | Arkansas Range: $61 – $278 | $164 |
| 44 | Montana Range: $54 – $263 | $163 |
| 45 | Maryland Range: $24 – $335 | $161 |
| 46 | Mississippi Range: $48 – $307 | $160 |
| 47 | Missouri Range: $64 – $265 | $159 |
| 48 | Oklahoma Range: $51 – $298 | $154 |
| 49 | Ohio Range: $41 – $298 | $154 |
| 50 | Arizona Range: $54 – $267 | $145 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $297 | $131 |