CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $411
- Cash Discount Price: $1,764
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.29x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 229% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 129%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $84 - $569 | 47% |
| Humana | $84 - $98 | 47% |
| Medicare (plans) | $84 - $98 | 47% |
| Kansas Health | $84 | 47% |
| Cigna | $84 - $310 | 47% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $84 - $1,430 | 47% |
| Kaiser | $84 - $1,794 | 47% |
| Aetna | $84 - $1,944 | 47% |
| Devoted Health | $98 | 55% |
| Innovage | $98 | 55% |
| Direct To Employer | $322 - $2,604 | 180% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $337 | 188% |
| United Colorado Doctor'S Plan | $402 | 224% |
| Peak Health | $433 - $2,539 | 242% |
| Multiplan | $592 - $5,534 | 330% |
| Denver Health | $1,537 | 858% |
| Wpaa | $1,617 | 902% |
| Christian Health Aid | $1,848 | 1031% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $2,241 | 1251% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CT scan of the head with contrast at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas, the cash median price is $1,764, which is significantly higher than the state average for this procedure. While commercial insurance plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Humana negotiate rates ranging from $84 to $98, these figures are often inflated by administrative costs and contract structures that can exceed the cash price for patients with high deductibles. Medicare serves as a critical benchmark here, with a fixed reimbursement rate of $179.20 for this code; commercial negotiated rates in this facility average 2.3 times the Medicare amount, highlighting the substantial markup often found in private insurance contracts.
Patients should be aware that hospitals frequently issue summary bills that obscure individual line items, making it difficult to identify errors or unbundled charges. To protect against unexpected costs, consumers should request a full itemized bill before paying and verify that all services rendered are accurately coded. Additionally, since the facility offers a prompt-pay discount for upfront payments, patients can often reduce their out-of-pocket expenses by asking for self-pay rates or cash discounts prior to scheduling, rather than waiting until after insurance claims are processed. Always confirm the specific "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" pricing with the hospital directly, as these rates can provide immediate savings compared to the standard negotiated amounts listed for insurance plans.