Hospitals / IA

Palo Alto County Health System Pricing Analysis

Emmetsburg, IA

Source: Hospital MRF file & CMS Medicare PFS 2026

Fairness Grade

B

Below average prices

Price Multiplier

14x

the federal fair-price benchmark

Procedures Priced

859

150 comparable to federal rates

What does this mean for your bill? This hospital charges about 14x the federal benchmark — typical for US hospitals.For example, a procedure the government prices at $100 would cost about $1,400 at this hospital's list price. If you're uninsured or out-of-network, you may be able to negotiate down significantly.

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Biggest Overcharges at This Hospital

These are the procedures where Palo Alto County Health System charges the most compared to the federal fair-price benchmark. “They Charge” is what appears on your bill. “Gov. Benchmark” is what the government determines the doctor's work is worth.

Note:This hospital's published data mainly includes major surgical procedures. These charges include the cost of implanted devices (like pacemakers or joint replacements) and facility fees — not just the surgeon's work. The government benchmark shown only reflects the surgeon's fee, so the difference looks larger than it is for these procedures.
ProcedureCodeThey ChargeGov. BenchmarkYou Overpay
Magnetic Resonance (eg, Proton) Imaging, Spinal Canal And Contents, Without Contrast Material, Followed By Contrast Material(s) And Further Sequences; Cervical72156$5,419$318+$5,101
MRI — brain (with and without contrast)70553$5,272$317+$4,955

About Palo Alto County Health System

Palo Alto County Health System in Emmetsburg, IA charges about 14x the federal benchmark — typical for US hospitals across 150 procedures we could compare. This data comes directly from the hospital's own published price file — they're required by federal law to share it.

What this means for your bill

If you're uninsured, out-of-network, or have a high-deductible plan, these prices directly affect what you pay. If you have in-network insurance, your insurer has likely negotiated much lower rates.

Can I negotiate?

Yes. Most hospitals will reduce bills when patients present evidence. Our bill review service compares your specific charges to fair-price benchmarks and generates a dispute letter you can send to the billing department.

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