By: Kathy Hubbard
The plan is simple. Bonner General Health has rolled out a program where patients can pay the hospital directly for their CT and MRI scans. This applies to patients who are insured, underinsured or not insured. The price sheet reads like a menu and meets the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services transparency guidelines.
I recently met with BGH’s CFO Skyler Twidt and Ancillary Service Operations Director, Daniel Holland, to learn more about the Cash Pay Plan. Both men are very happy to be able to add another level of service to the community.
“It’s becoming harder and harder for consumers to choose healthcare plans,” Twidt said. “The consumer has the difficult responsibility of making serious decisions.”
Those decisions include how much coverage one expects to need, how much one can reasonably afford to pay monthly, how high a deductible they are comfortable with and what co-pays for office visits and prescription drugs will run.
Often, consumers choose a healthcare insurance plan that has a high deductible in order to keep the premium rates as low as possible for affordability. Those plans are fine, until one experiences unexpected healthcare needs that don’t meet that deductible. That’s when they should consider a Cash Pay Plan.
Also, take into consideration that insurance companies more often than not must preapprove diagnostic imaging. Your scan isn’t as time sensitive for them as it is for you and your healthcare provider. The time spent waiting for approval can potentially affect outcomes.
“Bonner General Health’s goal is to create access and provide convenience at less cost to the patient,” Holland said. “We never want access and cost to prevent a patient from getting care.”
One of the biggest advantages of a Cash Pay Plan is transparency pricing. If you’ve ever tried to decipher an explanation of benefits you know what I’m talking about. This plan actually has a price sheet for each of the different modalities of MRI and CT scans.
“We’ve provided cost sheets to the physicians. We’re basically covering our costs. The method for determining costs included balancing the average reimbursements and comparing our numbers to the neighboring healthcare facilities.” Twidt said. “There are no hidden fees or surprise charges.”
Holland said that all imaging will continue to need a referral from your healthcare provider. When the medico ascertains that you need either a CT or MRI, he or she will have a conversation with you not only about the procedure but will also let you know what your options are.
So, let’s recap. This plan potentially can save you money with transparent pricing, help you avoid high deductibles and co-pays, with no surprise bills. The prices on BGH’s price sheet include the cost of the scan and the fees for the radiologist to read the scans.
The plan eliminates the need for pre-authorization which can be time-consuming and complicated, resulting in shorter wait times for your provider to provide you with a diagnosis. And finally, it increases your choice and flexibility. You can have your scan done here at BGH. You’re able to have a scan that may not be approved by your insurance company.
Holland and Twidt both emphasized that this plan was developed to be a convenience to those who would benefit from it. So, whether you’re insured, under insured, or not insured, you now have choices you didn’t have before.
They also said that right now the plan covers CT scans and MRIs because they are the most common modalities, but they noted that other procedures could be added in the future. Stay tuned.
You know that often I tell you that you’re the star of your healthcare team. That also involves understanding your insurance coverage and checking out all the available options. You certainly want your financial health to be as good as your physical health – or better.
Kathy Hubbard is a member of the Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on July 30, 2025.
