Patient Resources

Chargemaster & Shoppable Charges

Price Transparency

At Stevens Community Medical Center (SCMC), we believe patients should have access to information that helps them make informed decisions about their health care costs.

What is a Machine Readable File (MRF)?

The federal government requires hospitals to post their Chargemaster rates (standard charges) and expected reimbursements from contracted insurers on their website. This data is available in what’s called a Machine Readable File (“MRF”). While this information can help patients understand pricing, it can be difficult to estimate exact costs—especially for services like surgery, where care can vary by patient.

What is the Chargemaster?

The Chargemaster is a list of standard prices for every service, supply, or medication the hospital provides.

The “gross charge” is the base price before any discounts.
Charges may be multiplied by the number of units used for your care.
All patients are billed the gross charge, but most people do not pay this full amount.

Your final cost depends on:

Insurance coverage
Hospital discounts for prompt pay or self-pay
Financial assistance eligibility

SCMC as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH)

SCMC is designated as a Critical Access Hospital by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

This affects how we are reimbursed, especially for inpatient and swing bed services.
Many insurers pay a daily bundled rate, covering all services provided in a single day.

Our Commitment to Patients

SCMC provides medically necessary care to all patients—regardless of:

Ability to pay
Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP coverage
Race, color, sex, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity

We assist patients with financial concerns in a respectful and dignified manner.

Questions?
Please contact our Patient Account Services office at 320-589-7667

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