Palo Alto County Hospital — prices & quality

Published cash, insurer and chargemaster prices for 323 procedures at Palo Alto County Hospital, Emmetsburg, IA — from its federally-required machine-readable file.

10% abovethe US average price, across 323 priced procedures
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3201 1st Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536

Would recommend84%
ER wait (median)105 min
30-day readmission14.8%
🍼 Birthing-Friendly hospital

Critical Access Hospitals · Government - Local · 25 beds

Price vs US average = median of this hospital’s cash prices against the national median across 323 procedures. Quality ratings from CMS Care Compare.

All published prices

ProcedureCashChargemasterInsurerMedicareEst. you pay
3D mammogram (tomosynthesis) $65 $87 $87 $51
Abdominal fluid drain (paracentesis) $1,576 $2,101 $1,019 $284
Abdominal ultrasound $528 $704 $642 $100
Abdominal ultrasound (complete) $574 $765 $765 $114
Abdominal ultrasound (limited) $482 $642 $642 $86
Abscess drainage (complex or multiple) $510 $680 $674 $220
Abscess drainage (simple) $290 $386 $382 $129
Abscess incision and drainage $398 $530 $386 $174
Albumin blood test $50 $66 $66 $5
Aldosterone test $119 $159 $155 $41
Alkaline phosphatase test $51 $69 $67 $5
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test $70 $93 $63 $17
ALT liver enzyme test $55 $73 $67 $5
Ammonia blood test $141 $189 $184 $15
Amylase test $60 $80 $78 $6
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test $80 $106 $106 $12
AST liver enzyme test $53 $71 $66 $5
Barium swallow study $376 $501 $500 $107
Bartholin cyst removal $336 $448 $335 $182
Basic metabolic panel $104 $139 $135 $8
Bilirubin blood test $50 $66 $66 $5
Blood clotting test (PT/INR) $41 $54 $34 $4
Blood crossmatch $89 $118 $118 —
Blood glucose test $54 $72 $67 $5
Blood transfusion $718 $957 $711 $47
Blood type and screen $109 $145 $144 $10
Blood type test $45 $60 $57 $3
Blood type test (ABO group) $45 $60 $60 $3
Blood type test (Rh/D antigen) $43 $57 $57 $3
BNP (heart failure) test $144 $193 $188 $39
Bone density scan (DEXA) $582 $776 $776 $39
Bone scan (nuclear) $1,379 $1,838 $1,792 $259
Breast ultrasound $450 $600 $600 $92
Breast ultrasound (limited) $450 $600 $600 $84
Breathing tube insertion (intubation) $760 $1,013 $745 $133
Burn dressing and debridement (medium) $336 $448 $335 $166
Burn dressing and debridement (small) $176 $235 $235 $93
Burn treatment $185 $247 $235 $129
C-reactive protein (CRP) $55 $73 $71 $5
CA 19-9 tumor marker test $138 $184 $179 $21
CA-125 ovarian marker test $132 $176 $171 $21
Calcium blood test $48 $64 $61 $5
Cardiac stress test $902 $1,203 $1,173 $39
Cardioversion $801 $1,068 $1,041 $155
Carotid artery ultrasound $815 $1,086 $972 $156
CEA tumor marker test $111 $148 $144 $19
Celiac disease test $77 $103 $103 $12
Central line placement $768 $1,024 $765 $238
Chest fluid drain (thoracentesis) $2,127 $2,836 $1,673 $311
Chest tube insertion $457 $609 $455 $143
Chest X-ray $270 $360 $348 $37
Chest X-ray (1 view) $217 $289 $289 $25
Chest X-ray (2 views) $270 $360 $360 $33
Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine $175 $233 $233 —
Circumcision $546 $728 $728 $167
CK-MB heart enzyme test $110 $147 $147 $12
Clotting time test (PTT) $49 $66 $57 $6
Colposcopy $384 $512 $383 $161
Complete blood count (CBC) $75 $101 $93 $7
Complete blood count (CBC) (complete) $83 $111 $108 $8
Comprehensive metabolic panel $120 $160 $156 $11
Copper blood test $84 $112 $109 $12
Cortisol test $108 $144 $140 $16
COVID-19 PCR test $90 $120 $84 $51
CPAP titration study $572 $762 $762 $69
Creatine kinase (CK) test $60 $80 $78 $7
CT angiography of the chest $2,857 $3,809 $3,460 $281
CT angiography of the head $2,389 $3,185 $3,105 $274
CT scan of the abdomen $1,835 $2,447 $2,006 $230
CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis $3,526 $4,702 $3,460 $300
CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with and without contrast $4,137 $5,517 $3,494 $338
CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis with contrast $3,526 $4,702 $3,460 $300
CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis without contrast $3,089 $4,119 $3,460 $183
CT scan of the abdomen with and without contrast $2,201 $2,935 $2,862 $259
CT scan of the abdomen with contrast $1,835 $2,447 $2,386 $230
CT scan of the abdomen without contrast $1,505 $2,006 $1,956 $136
CT scan of the arm $2,336 $3,114 $2,142 $199
CT scan of the arm with contrast $2,336 $3,114 $3,036 $199
CT scan of the arm without contrast $1,607 $2,142 $2,088 $161
CT scan of the chest $1,807 $2,409 $2,030 $167
CT scan of the chest with and without contrast $2,048 $2,731 $2,598 $196
CT scan of the chest with contrast $1,904 $2,539 $2,409 $167
CT scan of the chest without contrast $1,568 $2,091 $2,008 $133
CT scan of the head $1,763 $2,350 $1,947 $148
CT scan of the head with and without contrast $2,175 $2,900 $2,828 $173
CT scan of the head with contrast $1,875 $2,500 $2,438 $148
CT scan of the head without contrast $1,555 $2,074 $1,947 $107
CT scan of the leg $2,269 $3,025 $2,271 $166
CT scan of the leg with contrast $2,269 $3,025 $2,949 $166
CT scan of the leg without contrast $1,703 $2,271 $2,214 $130
CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) $2,003 $2,671 $2,305 $169
CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with and without contrast $2,210 $2,946 $2,872 $197
CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast $2,003 $2,671 $2,604 $169
CT scan of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast $1,729 $2,305 $2,247 $130
CT scan of the neck $1,739 $2,319 $1,947 $183
CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) $2,171 $2,895 $2,602 $168
CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast $2,566 $3,421 $3,335 $196
CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast $2,330 $3,106 $3,028 $168
CT scan of the neck (cervical spine) without contrast $1,982 $2,643 $2,575 $131
CT scan of the neck with and without contrast $1,986 $2,648 $2,517 $220
CT scan of the neck with contrast $1,739 $2,319 $2,190 $183
CT scan of the neck without contrast $1,482 $1,977 $1,926 $150
CT scan of the pelvis $1,960 $2,613 $2,175 $226
CT scan of the pelvis with and without contrast $2,210 $2,946 $2,872 $251
CT scan of the pelvis with contrast $1,960 $2,613 $2,548 $226
CT scan of the pelvis without contrast $1,631 $2,175 $2,121 $133
CT scan of the sinuses $1,957 $2,609 $2,091 $152
CT scan of the sinuses with and without contrast $2,101 $2,801 $2,731 $184
CT scan of the sinuses with contrast $1,957 $2,609 $2,544 $152
CT scan of the sinuses without contrast $1,568 $2,091 $2,039 $128
D-dimer test $104 $139 $137 $10
Developmental screening (child) $158 $210 $210 —
DHEA-sulfate test $87 $116 $113 $22
Diagnostic mammogram $360 $480 $464 $140
Drug screen (urine) $122 $162 $111 $17
Ear pressure test (tympanometry) $109 $145 $144 $16
Echocardiogram $1,178 $1,571 $896 $138
Echocardiogram with and without contrast $672 $896 $874 $101
EEG (awake and asleep) $707 $943 $919 $482
EKG / ECG (tracing only) $155 $207 $207 $7
Electrocardiogram (EKG) $155 $207 $207 $8
Electroencephalogram (EEG) $674 $899 $854 $448
Electrolyte panel $80 $107 $107 $7
Emergency department visit $314 $418 $351 $69
Emergency department visit (level 1) $125 $166 $158 $11
Emergency department visit (level 2) $207 $276 $262 $40
Emergency department visit (level 3) $314 $418 $418 $69
Emergency department visit (level 4) $563 $750 $711 $118
Emergency department visit (level 5) $677 $902 $747 $171
Endometrial biopsy $272 $362 $270 $98
Epidural steroid injection $1,201 $1,601 $1,525 $275
Estradiol (estrogen) test $108 $145 $141 $28
Facet joint injection (spine) $1,349 $1,798 $1,244 $99
Fecal occult blood (stool) test $39 $52 $42 $10
Fecal occult blood (stool) test (guaiac, gFOBT) $32 $42 $40 $4
Fecal occult blood (stool) test (immunochemical, FIT) $48 $64 $61 $16
Ferritin (iron) test $96 $128 $125 $14
Fibrinogen test $84 $112 $108 $10
Flu vaccine $41 $44 $28 —
Folate (folic acid) test $98 $131 $125 $15
Foreign body removal (skin) $341 $454 $339 $157
Free T4 thyroid test $71 $95 $93 $9
FSH hormone test $95 $126 $123 $19
Gallbladder scan (HIDA) $1,733 $2,311 $1,722 $334
GGT liver test $59 $78 $78 $7
Glucose tolerance test $49 $65 $61 $8
HDL cholesterol test $50 $66 $66 $8
Hematocrit test $31 $41 $41 $2
Hemoglobin A1c (diabetes test) $75 $101 $98 $10
Hepatitis A vaccine $139 $185 $185 —
Hepatitis B test $73 $98 $95 $10
Hepatitis B vaccine $162 $186 $185 —
Hepatitis C test $68 $90 $86 $14
HIV test $75 $100 $100 $19
HIV test (antigen/antibody combo) $75 $100 $100 $24
Holter heart monitor $396 $529 $390 $26
HPV vaccine $294 $392 $392 —
Iron blood test $50 $66 $65 $6
IUD removal $258 $344 $257 $112
IV infusion therapy $161 $215 $152 $44
IV infusion therapy (each additional) $114 $152 $152 $21
IV infusion therapy (initial) $209 $278 $278 $67
Kidney scan (nuclear) $1,594 $2,125 $2,072 $172
Kidney ultrasound $527 $702 $554 $84
Kidney ultrasound (limited) $416 $554 $554 $61
Lactate test $71 $95 $92 $12
LDH test $63 $84 $71 $6
LDL cholesterol test $72 $96 $95 $11
Leg vein ultrasound (Doppler) $759 $1,012 $860 $150
Leg vein ultrasound (Doppler) (limited) $702 $936 $860 $116
LH hormone test $87 $116 $113 $19
Lipase test $66 $88 $86 $7
Lipid (cholesterol) panel $102 $136 $132 $13
Liver function panel $115 $153 $153 $8
Lung function test (PFT) $242 $322 $305 $37
Lung scan (V/Q) $1,328 $1,770 $1,726 $291
Magnesium blood test $55 $73 $59 $7
MMR vaccine $101 $135 $135 —
MRA of the brain $3,075 $4,100 $3,008 $226
MRA of the brain with contrast $3,075 $4,100 $3,460 $226
MRA of the brain without contrast $3,225 $4,300 $3,460 $328
MRA of the neck $2,858 $3,810 $2,839 $245
MRA of the neck with contrast $2,858 $3,810 $3,460 $245
MRA of the neck without contrast $4,039 $5,385 $3,494 $343
MRI of the abdomen $3,015 $4,020 $3,008 $300
MRI of the abdomen with contrast $3,015 $4,020 $3,460 $300
MRI of the abdomen without contrast $2,256 $3,008 $2,933 $194
MRI of the ankle $3,367 $4,489 $3,460 $261
MRI of the ankle with contrast $3,367 $4,489 $3,460 $261
MRI of the ankle without contrast $2,840 $3,786 $3,460 $222
MRI of the brain $3,293 $4,390 $3,394 $269
MRI of the brain with contrast $3,293 $4,390 $3,460 $269
MRI of the brain without contrast $2,546 $3,394 $3,309 $195
MRI of the chest $2,684 $3,578 $3,430 $371
MRI of the chest without contrast $2,684 $3,578 $3,430 $466
MRI of the knee $2,886 $3,848 $3,027 $315
MRI of the knee with contrast $2,573 $3,431 $3,345 $315
MRI of the knee without contrast $2,270 $3,027 $2,951 $204
MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) $2,858 $3,810 $2,839 $270
MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) with contrast $2,858 $3,810 $3,460 $270
MRI of the lower back (lumbar spine) without contrast $2,129 $2,839 $2,768 $192
MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) $3,546 $4,728 $3,094 $271
MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) with and without contrast $4,039 $5,385 $3,494 $319
MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) with contrast $3,546 $4,728 $3,460 $271
MRI of the mid-back (thoracic spine) without contrast $2,321 $3,094 $3,017 $190
MRI of the neck (cervical spine) $3,015 $4,020 $3,008 $274
MRI of the neck (cervical spine) with and without contrast $4,268 $5,690 $3,494 $318
MRI of the neck (cervical spine) with contrast $3,015 $4,020 $3,460 $274
MRI of the neck (cervical spine) without contrast $2,256 $3,008 $2,933 $191
MRI of the pelvis $2,858 $3,810 $2,839 $268
MRI of the pelvis with contrast $2,858 $3,810 $3,460 $268
MRI of the pelvis without contrast $2,129 $2,839 $2,768 $227
MRI of the shoulder $2,573 $3,431 $3,027 $313
MRI of the shoulder with contrast $2,573 $3,431 $3,345 $313
MRI of the shoulder without contrast $2,270 $3,027 $2,951 $205
MRI of the wrist $2,913 $3,884 $2,839 $330
MRI of the wrist with contrast $2,913 $3,884 $3,460 $330
MRI of the wrist without contrast $2,129 $2,839 $2,768 $303
Nebulizer breathing treatment $115 $153 $131 $9
Nuclear cardiac stress test $4,110 $5,480 $3,494 $428
Office visit (established patient) $138 $184 $137 $115
Office visit, established patient (level 3) $138 $184 $137 $95
Pap smear (cervical screening) $82 $109 $109 $20
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) test $149 $198 $197 $41
Pelvic ultrasound $488 $651 $642 $78
Pelvic ultrasound (complete) $544 $726 $651 $105
Pelvic ultrasound (limited) $482 $642 $642 $51
Phosphorus blood test $43 $57 $48 $5
Physical therapy evaluation $143 $191 $191 $98
Platelet count $31 $41 $41 $4
Pneumonia vaccine $137 $182 $182 —
Pregnancy ultrasound $617 $823 $677 $126
Pregnancy ultrasound (first trimester) $508 $677 $677 $117
Pregnancy ultrasound (second or third trimester) $665 $887 $823 $136
Procalcitonin test $131 $175 $170 $27
Prolactin test $136 $182 $177 $19
Prostate test (PSA) $115 $153 $152 $18
Psychotherapy session $250 $333 $236 $140
Pulmonary rehabilitation $366 $488 $488 $87
Radiofrequency nerve ablation $2,625 $3,500 $3,393 $462
Rheumatoid factor test $50 $66 $66 $6
RSV vaccine $224 $299 $299 —
Sacroiliac joint injection $1,901 $2,534 $2,534 $176
Scoliosis spine X-ray $329 $439 $439 $58
Scoliosis spine X-ray (3 views) $329 $439 $439 $72
Screening mammogram $274 $365 $365 $126
Scrotal ultrasound $584 $779 $779 $99
Sedimentation rate (ESR) test $37 $49 $48 $3
Semen analysis $50 $67 $67 $12
Shingles vaccine $264 $352 $352 —
Simple laceration repair (small, up to 2.5 cm) $344 $459 $343 $114
Simple wound stitches $356 $474 $350 $127
Skin biopsy $185 $246 $184 $121
Skin biopsy (punch) $185 $246 $184 $121
Skin tag removal $218 $290 $290 $92
Sleep study (polysomnography) $3,559 $4,746 $3,460 $691
Soft tissue ultrasound $326 $435 $420 $64
Speech therapy $227 $302 $302 $76
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) $446 $594 $444 $165
Spirometry (lung function test) $242 $322 $322 $30
Spirometry with bronchodilator $329 $439 $273 $43
Stress echocardiogram $965 $1,287 $1,255 $209
Stress echocardiogram (complete) $965 $1,287 $1,255 $233
Swallow study $290 $386 $386 $85
T3 thyroid test $100 $133 $112 $14
Tdap (tetanus) vaccine $139 $151 $97 —
Testosterone test $93 $124 $111 $26
Thyroid test (TSH) $103 $137 $81 $17
Thyroid ultrasound $578 $770 $770 $109
Thyroid uptake scan $1,130 $1,507 $1,469 $145
Total IgE allergy test $74 $99 $96 $16
Total protein test $49 $65 $64 $4
Transvaginal ultrasound $508 $678 $585 $118
Trigger point injection $203 $271 $202 $56
Trigger point injection (1-2 muscles) $203 $271 $202 $52
Triglycerides test $57 $76 $66 $6
Troponin (heart) test $110 $147 $147 $12
Turning a breech baby (version) $456 $608 $608 $94
Upper GI series (barium) $459 $613 $600 $128
Uric acid (gout) test $50 $66 $66 $5
Urinalysis $27 $36 $36 $3
Urine microalbumin test $59 $79 $44 $5
Urine pregnancy test $43 $57 $57 $9
Vaccine administration $55 $74 $72 $19
Vaccine administration (each additional) $54 $72 $72 $16
Vasectomy $848 $1,131 $845 $347
Vitamin B12 test $95 $126 $123 $15
Vitamin D test $113 $151 $147 $30
X-ray of the abdomen $293 $390 $305 $36
X-ray of the ankle $219 $292 $171 $37
X-ray of the collarbone $199 $265 $265 $33
X-ray of the elbow $244 $325 $191 $33
X-ray of the facial bones $250 $333 $305 $39
X-ray of the foot $219 $292 $292 $34
X-ray of the forearm $183 $244 $146 $29
X-ray of the hand $219 $292 $171 $38
X-ray of the hip $257 $342 $269 $49
X-ray of the hip (1 view) $202 $269 $225 $34
X-ray of the hip (3 views) $257 $342 $342 $49
X-ray of the hip (4 views) $287 $383 $383 $63
X-ray of the knee $227 $302 $205 $42
X-ray of the knee (2 views) $227 $302 $177 $34
X-ray of the knee (3 views) $267 $356 $209 $42
X-ray of the knee (4+ views) $310 $413 $243 $49
X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) $343 $457 $384 $47
X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (2 views) $288 $384 $384 $40
X-ray of the lower back (lumbar spine) (4+ views) $398 $530 $530 $53
X-ray of the lower leg $275 $366 $215 $31
X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) $253 $337 $321 $36
X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (2 views) $241 $321 $321 $33
X-ray of the mid-back (thoracic spine) (3 views) $265 $353 $353 $39
X-ray of the neck (cervical spine) $269 $358 $320 $47
X-ray of the neck (cervical spine) (3 views) $240 $320 $320 $40
X-ray of the pelvis $213 $285 $264 $36
X-ray of the pelvis (1 view) $198 $264 $264 $28
X-ray of the ribs $300 $400 $361 $42
X-ray of the ribs (2 views) $271 $361 $361 $36
X-ray of the ribs (3 views) $311 $415 $415 $42
X-ray of the shoulder $303 $404 $404 $36
X-ray of the skull $312 $417 $384 $40
X-ray of the upper arm $259 $345 $203 $32
X-ray of the wrist $219 $292 $171 $43
Zinc blood test $84 $112 $109 $11
What the columns mean
  • Cash — the hospital’s self-pay price if you don’t use insurance.
  • Chargemaster — the full list (sticker) price, before any discount.
  • Insurer — the median rate insurers have negotiated (pick your insurer above to see its rate).
  • Medicare — what Medicare pays — a benchmark for judging whether a price is fair.
  • Est. you pay — your estimated out-of-pocket cost for the deductible and coinsurance you enter above.

Lower-priced hospitals nearby

Within 60 miles, with below-this-hospital prices (≥10 procedures priced).

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center ★2
Storm Lake, IA · 42 mi · 36% below avg
Humboldt County Memorial Hospital
Humboldt, IA · 35 mi · 32% below avg
Cherokee Regional Medical Center ★2
Cherokee, IA · 50 mi · 23% below avg
Spencer Municipal Hospital ★4
Spencer, IA · 23 mi · 18% below avg
Trinity Regional Medical Center ★2
Fort Dodge, IA · 50 mi · 5% below avg
Stewart Memorial Community Hospital
Lake City, IA · 59 mi · 0% below avg

Doctors affiliated with Palo Alto County Hospital

Clinicians who report a care affiliation with this hospital in CMS data, ranked by Medicare patient volume. A signal from Original Medicare, not a quality ranking.

ClinicianSpecialtyMedicare patients
Ho Nguyen, MDDiagnostic Radiology5,263
Louis Roemhildt, M.D.Diagnostic Radiology3,948
Timothy Hurst, MDDiagnostic Radiology3,717
Alireza Yarahmadi, MDNeurology1,857
Crystal Meyer, ARNPNurse Practitioner1,463
John Lee, D.O.Pathology1,432
Denisa Hagau, M.D.Cardiology1,331
Nicholas Broadbent, D.O.Diagnostic Radiology1,285
Jean Haulard, D.P.M.Podiatry744
Jason Hough, D.O.Orthopedic Surgery692
Pranav Singh, MDPulmonary Disease599
Andrew Pick, DOOrthopedic Surgery591
Youssef Nasr, M.D.Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology585
Amad Zineldine, MDCardiology560
John Leupold, MDOrthopedic Surgery548

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Before you go — your checklist at Palo Alto County Hospital

View this hospital’s source price file ↗. Source: this hospital’s machine-readable file (45 CFR §180), retrieved Jun 2026; Medicare from CMS fee schedules; quality from CMS Care Compare. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.