MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Labette Health
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $236
- Cash Discount Price: $2,400
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.97x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $132 - $238 | 54% |
| Healthy Blue | $134 - $238 | 55% |
| Uhccp | $196 - $359 | 80% |
| Wellcare | $224 | 92% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $224 - $553 | 92% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $224 - $2,982 | 92% |
| Humana | $224 | 92% |
| Kansas Superior Select | $230 | 94% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $257 | 105% |
| Montgomery County | $409 | 168% |
| Multiplan | $2,914 | 1195% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas, Inc | $3,085 | 1266% |
| Choicecare (First Health Network) | $3,085 | 1266% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Labette Health in Parsons, KS, the facility's cash median rate of $2,400.00 is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, reflecting a markup typical of commercial pricing structures where negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of the federal baseline. While the facility is a government-owned acute care hospital, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates vary widely across the 13 payers listed, ranging from a low of $132 with Medicaid/KanCare to a high of $3,085 with Health Partners of Kansas and Choicecare. For individuals with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $2,400.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as some commercial contracts exceed the cash rate, and hospitals frequently offer prompt-pay discounts of 20% to 50% for immediate payment that can further reduce the final out-of-pocket cost.
When evaluating the financial impact of this service, it is important to note that the facility's cash rate does not align with typical state or county averages, as specific regional data points for this procedure were not provided in the available records. Patients should verify their specific plan details before scheduling, as assuming that being in-network guarantees the lowest possible price is a common pitfall; some in-network carriers may negotiate rates that are substantially higher than the cash option. To protect against unexpected costs, consumers should request a detailed itemized bill prior to payment to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, and should explicitly ask about self-pay or prompt-pay