MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: University Of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $998
- Cash Discount Price: $730
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.09x 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 $243.77 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 409% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 309%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Web Tpa [2115] | $998 | 409% |
| Black Lung [6055] | $998 | 409% |
| Healthcare Highways [2210] | $998 | 409% |
| Lucent Health [6000] | $998 | 409% |
| Aetna | $998 | 409% |
| Oncology Patient Assistance Programs [2295] | $998 | 409% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $998 | 409% |
| Hooray Health [8000] | $998 | 409% |
| Department Of Corrections [1340] | $1,217 | 499% |
| Healthpartners [1500] | $1,407 | 577% |
| Cigna | $1,407 | 577% |
| National Association Of Letter Carriers [1695] | $1,407 | 577% |
| American Postal Workers Union [1070] | $1,407 | 577% |
| Humana | $1,436 | 589% |
| First Health [1375] | $1,892 | 776% |
| American Healthcare [1055] | $1,892 | 776% |
| Multiplan [1680] | $1,892 | 776% |
| Administrative Concepts [1005] | $1,892 | 776% |
| Coventry Healthcare [1320] | $1,996 | 819% |
| Ks Disability Determination [6090] | $2,435 | 999% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
If you are paying cash for this MRI of the brain, you should know that the cash median rate is $730. For patients with high-deductible plans where insurance coverage is limited, this cash price may be significantly lower than the negotiated rates charged by insurance carriers, which average $998 across most payers. It is important to verify with the University Of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus whether they offer "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, as paying upfront can sometimes bypass administrative fees and result in a final bill closer to the cash median.
While the cash rate of $730 provides a baseline for direct payment, the broader commercial pricing context reveals that facilities often charge higher amounts to insured patients due to contract dynamics and administrative costs. The median negotiated rate of $998 is higher than the cash price, and the Medicare amount of $243.77 serves as a benchmark showing the scale of the markup. Although the facility is a voluntary non-profit in Topeka, KS, patients should be aware that the cash rate is substantially lower than the gross chargemaster of $2,435, and that commercial rates typically range from 120% to 300% of the Medicare baseline depending on payer contracts.