CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Mercy Hospital Pittsburg, Inc
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $175
- Cash Discount Price: $2,030
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.98x Medicare
Average discount available for prompt cash payment at this facility.
Median negotiated contract rate across all mapped commercial carriers.
Standard federal government reimbursement rate for this code.
Visual Cost Comparison vs. Medicare
Understanding this gauge: We use the federal Medicare rate of $179.2 as the cost baseline. Rates below the baseline represent excellent value. In-network commercial rates commonly hover around 150% - 250% of Medicare, while rates exceeding 300% are elevated. Hover over the green and blue markers to view detailed calculations.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimator
Estimate whether it is more economical to use your insurance or pay the upfront self-pay cash rate.
Commercial Insurance Negotiated Rates
Negotiated contract ranges established by major commercial carriers at this facility.
| Carrier / Plan Group | Contract Rate Range | vs. Medicare Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $99 - $170 | 55% |
| Aetna | $99 - $2,655 | 55% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $99 - $173 | 55% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $101 - $578 | 56% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $152 - $2,105 | 85% |
| Kindful Hospice Contracted [320434] | $170 | 95% |
| Dept Of Veteran Affairs Contracted [320106] | $170 | 95% |
| Mercy Hospice Okc [20252] | $170 | 95% |
| Halo Hcr Inc Hospice [20432] | $170 | 95% |
| Tricare | $170 | 95% |
| Elara Caring Aspire Hospice [20433] | $170 | 95% |
| Pace Of The Ozarks Contracted [320518] | $170 | 95% |
| Cross Timbers Hospice [20098] | $170 | 95% |
| Kindful Hospice [20434] | $170 | 95% |
| American Health Advantage Of Ks Mcr Contracted [320508] | $170 | 95% |
| Halo Hcr Inc Hospice Contracted [320432] | $170 | 95% |
| Medicare (plans) | $170 - $177 | 95% |
| Home State Health Plan Contracted [320187] | $173 | 97% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $173 | 97% |
| Providrs Care Network Contracted [320484] | $329 | 184% |
| Health Choice Contracted [320166] | $490 | 273% |
| Medica Contracted [320239] | $734 | 410% |
| Cigna | $1,070 - $1,097 | 597% |
| United Medical Resources Contracted [320454] | $2,105 | 1175% |
| Yuzu Health Contracted [320521] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| Imagine 360 Contracted [320494] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| Auxiant Contracted [320462] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| Workers Comp [20426] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| Healthlink Contracted [320179] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| Aither Health Contracted [320449] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| Ebms Contracted [320493] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| American Healthcare Alliance Contracted [320020] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| Edison Health Solutions Contracted [320502] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| Reflect Health Contracted [320492] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| Mercy Benefit Admin Contracted [320251] | $2,498 | 1394% |
| First Health Contracted [320128] | $2,655 | 1482% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CT scan of the head (with and without contrast) at Mercy Hospital Pittsburg, Inc., the facility's cash median price is $2,030, which is lower than the gross charge of $3,123. While many commercial payers negotiate rates significantly higher than the cash price—ranging from $170 for specific hospice contracts up to $2,498 for several managed care organizations—patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more affordable. The facility offers a prompt-pay discount for upfront payment, which can reduce the total cost, and patients should explicitly request self-pay pricing before scheduling to avoid automatic insurance submission that could void these savings.
When comparing pricing benchmarks, the facility's Medicare rate of $179.20 serves as the objective baseline for evaluating commercial markups, rather than the inflated gross charges. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average figures for this procedure, the wide variation in negotiated rates across 36 different payers highlights the importance of verifying your specific plan's allowed amount. To ensure you are not overcharged, it is recommended to request an itemized billing audit if you receive a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, under the No Surprises Act, you are protected from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, so you should dispute any unexpected bills immediately rather than paying them out of fear of credit damage.