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National price data · 2,907 hospitals

CT scan, head (no contrast) cost

What a ct scan, head (no contrast) costs across the U.S. — and the fair price to aim for.

Pillar 1 · The BaseRate™ CompositeHow 1.00× Fair BaseRate Works: Raw price averages unfairly penalize hospitals in high-wage cities or trauma centers treating sicker patients. We adjust for local CMS hospital wage levels and patient complexity first. A 1.00× score means right at the fair price average, 0.85× means 15% cheaper than fair market, and 1.30× means 30% above fair market.Near Fair BaseRate Benchmark
1.00×vs. Fair Market Price
Position vs. 1.00× Fair PriceRight at U.S. Average (0%) 1.00× (center of the bar) is the U.S. fair price average after accounting for local hospital wages and patient complexity. Left of center (<1.00×) is below fair price; right of center (>1.00×) is above fair price.

Typical commercial prices here match the fair market benchmark (1.00×) after accounting for local nurse/doctor wages and patient complexity.

Pillar 2 · VeriRate™ Data TrustHow VeriRate™ (0–100) Works: Hospitals are legally required to publish machine-readable price files, but some bury fake $0.01 numbers or omit cash discounts. VeriRate audits each file across 5 checks (hover any badge below to see what it tests).86/100 · Verified
86/100Hover Any Check Below to See How Prices Were Audited
File Completeness90Provenance (File Completeness): Checks whether the hospital published a complete, up-to-date machine-readable price file with valid CPT and MS-DRG billing codes instead of leaving blanks.
Price Logic88Coherence (Price Logic): Checks whether the hospital’s numbers make basic sense — e.g., self-pay cash price is lower than gross list price, with no fake $0.01 or $999,999 placeholder numbers.
Peer Alignment86Concordance (Peer Alignment): Checks whether reported prices sit in a realistic range compared to Medicare and nearby hospitals rather than wild 100× unit errors.
Clean Billing83Regularity (Clean Billing): Checks whether rates are structured consistently across procedures without erratic statistical spikes or hidden unbundled facility fees.
Real Cash Discount84Cash Honesty (Real Cash Discount): Checks whether the hospital offers a genuine self-pay cash discount that beats or matches commercial insurance rates instead of billing full sticker price.
Pillar 3 · Clinical Quality & ER SpeedChecks whether higher hospital prices actually buy better clinical quality — combining CMS Star Ratings, hospital safety scores, and emergency room wait times.Regional Value Leader
CMS Star RatingNot RatedOfficial CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (1 to 5 stars) summarizing mortality, safety of care, readmissions, and patient experience.
Safety ScoreNot ScoredComposite patient safety score (0–100) derived from CMS hospital-acquired infection rates (CLABSI, CAUTI, MRSA, C. diff), surgical complications, and HCAHPS surveys.
Typical ER WaitNo ER DataMedian minutes patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, as reported to CMS Timely and Effective Care.

Balances commercial hospital prices against CMS clinical safety, infection control, and patient experience.

Behavioral Pricing FingerprintLow Shoppable & Low Captive

Uniform Value Leader

Daniels Memorial Hospital maintains disciplined commercial pricing across both elective shoppable care (0.6× Medicare) and captive emergency/ancillary departments (0.2× Medicare). Patients and health plans benefit from predictable, below-benchmark rates (0.46× Fair BaseRate) without hidden ancillary cross-subsidization.

#6 of 26 in MT · 19th State Percentile#40 of 3,385 in U.S. · 1st National Percentile
Advantage

Where They're Good (Patient & Payer Edge)

  • Elective shoppable care is priced 54% below peer Fair BaseRate (0.46×)
  • Self-pay cash beats commercial insurance on 29% of shoppable procedures (43/100 Cash Honesty)
  • CMS clinical safety score (85/100 safety score) with 72% patient recommendation
  • IRS 501(c)(3) charity care provides free care up to 200% FPL and discounted care up to 400% FPL (80.9% AGB cap)
Watchout

Where You Can Get Burned (Markup Traps)

  • Even at low-cost facilities (1.00× Fair BaseRate), out-of-network or unnegotiated chargemaster bills can exceed commercial medians — confirm in-network status or request a self-pay cash quote up front.
  • Commercial insurance median sits at 0.26× Fair BaseRate (0.6× Medicare), so insured patients should always compare the self-pay cash price before paying.
  • Upper-quartile procedures (Q75 0.86×) jump +231% above the median procedure ratio (Q50 0.26×)
  • Unnegotiated chargemaster list prices average 8.9× Medicare (29¢ true HCRIS cost per $1 gross)
Front-Door ShoppableElective / Imaging
0.6× Medicare

Pre-scheduled outpatient procedures where patients can comparison-shop.

Back-Door Captive & ER0.33× Divergence
0.2× Medicare

Emergency, inpatient DRG, lab, and specialty drug lines billed after admission.

Quantile Tail Spread+231% Upper Tail
Q25 0.21× · Q50 0.26× · Q75 0.86×

Detects median-gaming when upper-quartile codes spike above the p50 median.

Select any lens to inspect department markups, federal cost accounting, or insurer discounts.
Department & Integrity Multiples (vs. CMS Medicare Cost Anchor) Green ≤1.3× · Teal 1.3–1.8× · Amber 1.8–2.5× · Rose >2.5×
Front-Door Shoppable CareFront-Door Shoppable
0.6× MedicareGood
Outpatient Surgery & ORBack-Door Captive
0.8× MedicareGood
Diagnostic Imaging (CT/MRI)Front-Door Shoppable
0.5× MedicareGood
Back-Door Captive ER VisitsBack-Door Captive
0.9× MedicareGood
Inpatient Lab & PathologyBack-Door Captive
0.8× MedicareGood
Specialty & Infusion Drugs (J-Codes)Back-Door Captive
1.1× MedicareGood
Self-Pay Cash Honesty & 501(r)Integrity & Outcomes
29% Cash Edge · 43/100Watchout
CMS Clinical Safety & Star ValueIntegrity & Outcomes
3 CMS · 85/100Good
National Geographic Price Intelligence · 50-State + DC/PR Cartogram

National State Price Index Heatmap · CT scan, head (no contrast)

State commercial price index vs. U.S. median (1.00×) and average Medicare multiple across all 53 priced states & territories

<0.93× Below Fair Price 0.93–1.05× Near Average 1.05–1.18× Elevated >1.18× High-Cost State
VT0.61×0.9× MedAL0.63×0.9× MedWV0.65×1.0× MedID0.66×1.0× MedME0.66×1.0× MedMI0.67×1.0× MedNC0.69×1.0× MedSD0.69×1.0× MedWY0.69×1.0× MedMD0.73×1.1× MedAZ0.74×1.1× MedIL0.77×1.2× MedPA0.79×1.2× MedAR0.81×1.2× MedPR0.81×1.2× MedMS0.84×1.3× MedNY0.85×1.3× MedHI0.87×1.3× MedOR0.87×1.3× MedMO0.90×1.4× MedDE0.92×1.4× MedCA0.96×1.4× MedMT0.98×1.5× MedOH0.99×1.5× MedTX0.99×1.5× MedRI1.01×1.5× MedTN1.04×1.6× MedGA1.06×1.6× MedMN1.07×1.6× MedNJ1.11×1.7× MedNV1.13×1.7× MedSC1.14×1.7× MedUT1.18×1.8× MedMA1.19×1.8× MedCT1.21×1.8× MedLA1.21×1.8× MedNM1.28×1.9× MedOK1.33×2.0× MedWI1.36×2.0× MedFL1.37×2.1× MedIN1.38×2.1× MedWA1.42×2.1× MedCO1.61×2.4× MedAK1.71×2.6× MedNH1.83×2.7× MedVA1.83×2.7× MedIA1.88×2.8× MedKY2.34×3.5× MedKS2.83×4.3× MedND2.98×4.5× MedDC3.22×4.8× MedNE3.50×8.8× Med
5 Lowest-Price States (Confounder-Isolated Value Leaders)
VT0.61×(0.9×)AL0.63×(0.9×)WV0.65×(1.0×)ID0.66×(1.0×)ME0.66×(1.0×)
5 Highest-Markup States (Strict Bill Audit Recommended)
NE3.50×(8.8×)DC3.22×(4.8×)ND2.98×(4.5×)KS2.83×(4.3×)KY2.34×(3.5×)
The BaseRate high confidence
$156
the fair national price for a ct scan, head (no contrast)
typically $98–$693 across 2,907 hospitals · how we calculate it
modeled estimate · not a bill or quote
2,907
hospitals priced
52
states
7.1×
price spread — where shopping matters
1.5×
vs. Medicare

Across 2,907 hospitals in 52 states, a ct scan, head (no contrast) has a fair BaseRate of $156 and typically costs $98–$693. The cheapest state is VT; the priciest is NE.

Cheapest hospitals for a ct scan, head (no contrast)

CT scan, head (no contrast) cost by state

AK $273 5 hospitals AL $101 50 hospitals AR $130 44 hospitals AZ $118 49 hospitals CA $153 229 hospitals CO $257 58 hospitals CT $194 14 hospitals DC $515 5 hospitals DE $147 9 hospitals FL $219 136 hospitals GA $170 89 hospitals HI $139 17 hospitals IA $300 70 hospitals ID $105 21 hospitals IL $123 110 hospitals IN $221 93 hospitals KS $453 88 hospitals KY $375 60 hospitals LA $194 79 hospitals MA $190 45 hospitals MD $117 2 hospitals ME $106 26 hospitals MI $107 79 hospitals MN $171 73 hospitals MO $144 76 hospitals MS $134 59 hospitals MT $156 18 hospitals NC $111 51 hospitals ND $477 17 hospitals NE $936 53 hospitals NH $293 15 hospitals NJ $178 48 hospitals NM $205 12 hospitals NV $181 22 hospitals NY $136 88 hospitals OH $158 109 hospitals OK $213 72 hospitals OR $139 37 hospitals PA $126 117 hospitals PR $130 13 hospitals RI $162 6 hospitals SC $183 42 hospitals SD $110 11 hospitals TN $167 75 hospitals TX $158 266 hospitals UT $188 29 hospitals VA $293 52 hospitals VT $97 10 hospitals WA $227 50 hospitals WI $217 83 hospitals WV $104 19 hospitals WY $110 6 hospitals
Inline Bill X-Ray & 501(r) Calculator 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Free Care ≤200% FPL · AGB Cap 36.3%

Audit a Bill or Quote at U.S. Hospital Benchmark (Zero PHI Required)

Fair BaseRate™ $156
Medicare Rate $90
Self-Pay Cash Request Quote
Insurer Median $160
Pre-filled with U.S. Hospital Benchmark’s charged/list benchmark
Screened against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines
2026 FPL: $15,650 + $5,500 per additional person
Step 1 · 501(r) Charity Care Check 501(r) AGB Cap: $139 (274% FPL)

Statutory 501(r) AGB Cap Limits Bill to $139

At 274% FPL (201%–400% FPL tier), 26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5) caps FAP-eligible bills at Amounts Generally Billed (36.3% of gross = $139).

Step 2 · Cash vs. Insurance Arbitrage Request Prompt-Pay Quote

Compare Prompt-Pay Cash Rate Against Remaining Deductible

Ask U.S. Hospital Benchmark's billing desk for their written 45 CFR § 180 discounted self-pay cash price and Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act.

Step 3 · Fair BaseRate Target +$228 Above Fair BaseRate

Negotiate Toward $156 Fair BaseRate ($90 Medicare)

Your bill ($384) is $228 above the denoised Fair BaseRate ($156) and 4.3× the $90 Medicare rate.

1-Click Factual Dispute Summary: Copy a citation-backed benchmark memo (with CMS CCN, CPT code, Medicare reference, Fair BaseRate, and 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) calculations) to paste into patient-portal messages or billing appeals.