MRI, brain (with and without contrast)
Facility: St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City
Billing Code: 70553 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70553
- Insurance Median: $619
- Cash Discount Price: $2,786
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.74x 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 $356.43 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $185 - $3,437 | 52% |
| Cigna | $185 - $585 | 52% |
| Humana | $185 - $216 | 52% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $185 - $2,528 | 52% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $185 - $746 | 52% |
| Kaiser | $185 - $2,712 | 52% |
| Kansas Health | $185 | 52% |
| Medicare (plans) | $185 - $216 | 52% |
| Devoted Health | $216 | 61% |
| Innovage | $216 | 61% |
| Direct To Employer | $461 - $3,938 | 129% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $543 | 152% |
| Peak Health | $619 - $3,840 | 174% |
| Multiplan | $815 - $8,368 | 229% |
| United Colorado Doctor'S Plan | $828 | 232% |
| Denver Health | $2,323 | 652% |
| Wpaa | $2,859 | 802% |
| Christian Health Aid | $3,267 | 917% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $3,962 | 1112% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (with and without contrast) procedure at St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City, the facility's cash median price of $2,786 is significantly higher than the state average of $412, though it remains well below the gross chargemaster of $6,965. While commercial insurance plans like Multiplan and United Colorado Doctor's Plan negotiate rates as high as $8,368, these negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price, making self-pay a potentially more affordable option for patients with high-deductible plans. Because commercial contracts include administrative overhead and volume-based pricing tiers, the cash rate can sometimes be lower than the allowed amount for in-network coverage, so patients should verify their specific plan's negotiated rate before scheduling.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against Medicare, which sets a baseline rate of $356.43 for this service; the cash price represents a markup of approximately 7.8 times the Medicare amount, reflecting the facility's non-profit ownership and local cost structure. Although the facility holds a 2-star rating, the wide variance in payer rates—from $185 for Kansas Health to over $3,900 for Multiplan—highlights the importance of checking individual plan details. Patients should proactively request a prompt-pay discount or self-pay classification prior to check-in to bypass insurance billing cycles, which can reduce costs by 20% to 50%, and should always demand a full itemized bill to avoid balance billing or errors that may occur with summary invoices.