CT scan, sinuses
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Billing Code: 70486 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70486
- Insurance Median: $99
- 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 $106.81 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare (plans) | $98 - $100 | 92% |
| Va | $98 | 92% |
| Humana | $98 | 92% |
| Vc Hope | $98 | 92% |
| Via Christi Research | $98 | 92% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $98 | 92% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $100 - $275 | 94% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $100 | 94% |
| Corizon | $123 | 115% |
| Smarthealth | $138 | 129% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $167 | 156% |
| Aetna | $342 - $372 | 320% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70486 (CT scan, sinuses) at Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc., the facility's negotiated rates range from $98 to $372 depending on the insurance carrier, with a median negotiated amount of $99.00. This facility is located in Wichita, KS, and serves 12 payers, including Medicare, Medicaid/KanCare, and major commercial plans like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna. While specific cash and median paid values are not available in the current dataset, patients should be aware that cash-pay options can sometimes result in lower costs than insurance negotiated rates, particularly for those with high-deductible plans where the insurer's allowed amount may exceed the cash price. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can significantly reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative processing fees.
When evaluating costs, it is important to compare these rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's full chargemaster list. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $106.81, which serves as the objective baseline for fair pricing; commercial negotiated rates typically average between 200% and 300% of this figure, though fair pricing is generally defined as 120% to 150%. For this specific code, the negotiated rates for most payers align closely with or slightly exceed the Medicare rate, indicating a pricing structure that is relatively transparent compared to the inflated list prices often found in hospital billing. Patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling to ensure they are not subject to balance billing, especially if they have out-of-network coverage or