MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $565
- Cash Discount Price: $2,119
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.32x 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 232% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 132%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cigna | $112 - $585 | 46% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $112 - $2,088 | 46% |
| Kaiser | $112 - $1,989 | 46% |
| Kansas Health | $112 | 46% |
| Medicare (plans) | $112 - $130 | 46% |
| Aetna | $112 - $2,839 | 46% |
| Humana | $112 - $130 | 46% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $112 - $746 | 46% |
| Innovage | $130 | 53% |
| Devoted Health | $130 | 53% |
| Direct To Employer | $461 - $2,888 | 189% |
| United Colorado Doctor'S Plan | $518 | 212% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $543 | 223% |
| Peak Health | $619 - $2,816 | 254% |
| Multiplan | $815 - $6,137 | 334% |
| Denver Health | $1,704 | 699% |
| Wpaa | $2,362 | 969% |
| Christian Health Aid | $2,699 | 1107% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $3,273 | 1343% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City, the cash median price is $2,119, which is significantly higher than the state average of $565. While commercial insurance plans like Aetna and Multiplan have negotiated rates ranging from $112 to over $6,000, these figures often reflect administrative markups rather than the true cost of care. Medicare serves as a reliable benchmark for this service, with a fixed rate of $243.77; commercial rates can average 200% to 300% of this amount, whereas fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150%. Patients with high-deductible plans should consider that paying cash directly might be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, especially if the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price, though this requires verifying the specific deductible status and allowed amounts with the insurer beforehand.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is critical to request a full itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as summary bills often obscure individual line items and potential errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes, obtaining a detailed CPT-coded statement allows you to identify charges for supplies or tests that were never delivered or incorrectly calculated. Additionally, you should inquire about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the total bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront, bypassing the costly insurance claims processing cycle. Given that this facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned hospital in Garden City, KS, and carries a facility rating of 2, comparing