MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Mcpherson Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $219
- Cash Discount Price: $1,575
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.90x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $55 - $3,685 | 23% |
| Tricare | $57 - $193 | 23% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $65 - $219 | 27% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $65 - $219 | 27% |
| Wellcare Mcr Adv - All Plans | $65 - $219 | 27% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $65 - $252 | 27% |
| Humana | $65 - $219 | 27% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $65 - $219 | 27% |
| Aetna | $65 - $3,685 | 27% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $80 - $3,316 | 33% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $191 - $3,685 | 78% |
| Health Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $195 - $3,759 | 80% |
| Central Plains - All Plans | $430 - $2,764 | 176% |
| Medical Associates - All Plans | $430 - $2,764 | 176% |
| Cigna | $544 - $3,501 | 223% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $544 - $3,501 | 223% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $2,580 | 1058% |
| Christian Health Aid - All Plans | $2,948 | 1209% |
| First Health - All Plans | $3,501 | 1436% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain without contrast (CPT 70551), McPherson Hospital in Kansas lists a gross charge of $2,129.00, which is significantly higher than the state average. While the facility's cash median rate is $1,575.00 and the median negotiated rate paid by insurers is $2,764.00, patients should be aware that commercial rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures. Medicare serves as the objective baseline for pricing, with a benchmark rate of $243.77 for this procedure; commercial negotiated rates typically average 200% to 300% of this amount, whereas fair pricing is generally defined as 120% to 150%. Because the facility's cash rate is lower than the negotiated average, paying out-of-pocket may result in lower costs for patients with high-deductible plans, provided they verify the availability of self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling.
Insurance coverage varies widely across the 19 payers represented in this report, with allowed amounts ranging from $55 to $3,759 depending on the plan and network tier. For instance, UnitedHealthcare and Medicaid/KanCare have the highest allowable ranges, extending up to $3,685, while some plans like WPPA and Christian Health Aid have fixed negotiated rates of $2,580 and $2,948, respectively. It is important to note that being in-network does not guarantee the lowest possible price, as different insurers negotiate different ceilings, and patients must check their specific deductible status before relying on insurance to cover the