CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $166
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.93x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Via Christi Research | $165 | 92% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $165 | 92% |
| Va | $165 | 92% |
| Medicare (plans) | $165 - $168 | 92% |
| Vc Hope | $165 | 92% |
| Humana | $165 | 92% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $168 - $461 | 94% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $168 | 94% |
| Corizon | $206 | 115% |
| Smarthealth | $230 | 128% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $280 | 156% |
| Aetna | $445 - $493 | 248% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470, representing a CT scan of the head with and without contrast, the facility Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc. has a median negotiated rate of $166.00 across 12 payers. This rate is notably lower than the highest negotiated amount observed for this service, which reached $493 with Aetna, and sits within the range of most major insurers including UnitedHealthcare ($168–$461) and UnitedHealthcare ($168–$168). When compared to the Medicare benchmark of $179.20, the facility's negotiated average is 90% of the Medicare rate, indicating pricing that is generally aligned with federal cost standards rather than inflated chargemaster lists. For patients with high-deductible plans, the cash price for this service may be more favorable than the insurance negotiated rate, as commercial contracts often include administrative overhead that pushes the allowed amount above the direct cash price.
Patients should be aware that while the facility is an in-network provider for most major carriers, balance billing is not applicable for this service due to federal protections under the No Surprises Act, which prohibits out-of-network balance billing for emergency and non-emergency care at in-network facilities. However, if a patient chooses to pay out-of-pocket directly, they should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount at the time of scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can significantly reduce the final cost by bypassing the standard insurance claims processing cycle. It is also important to verify that the final invoice is itemized and line-by-line, as summary bills may obscure specific charges or unbundled