CMS Price Transparency Data

MRI, brain (with and without contrast)

Facility: Kern Medical Center

Billing Code: 70553 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence
A fair price for this
$321
about 0.9× the $356 Medicare rate · typically $256–$654
modeled estimate · not a bill or quote
What this hospital charges insurers
$288
Below the fair price — a good deal
about $33 under the fair price · 0.8× Medicare
Medicare pays $356 Fair price $321 This hospital $288 Cash price $1,287 Hospital's list price $1,609

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other CA hospitals

On the higher side — 7 of 8 other CA hospitals charge less.

Cheapest $90 Priciest $292

Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 CA hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.

⚠ The cash price looks unusually high next to the insurance price — it may be the full list price, not a real cash discount. Call to confirm the self-pay rate.

A fair price for a MRI, brain (with and without contrast) is about $321 (about 0.9× the $356 Medicare rate). Kern Medical Center charges insurers about $288, or about $1,287 in cash — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Bakersfield, CA.

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

2 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Kaiser Permanente UnitedHealthcareAetnaCignaHumana

Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.

Insurance company Price range vs. Medicare
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor $123 - $1,879 35%
Kaiser Permanentemajor $107 - $1,991 30%
Health Net $107 - $1,770 30%
+ 3 smaller / regional plans $95 - $996

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

Insurance Before you use insurance

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost

A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.

Enter your details and press estimate to compare.

Facility Profile & Credentials

  • Address: 1700 Mount Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93306
  • CMS Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
  • Ownership Type: Government - Hospital District or Authority
  • Hospital Type: Acute Care Hospitals