CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Wesley Medical Center
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $2,878
- Cash Discount Price: $16,636
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 16.06x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 1606% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1506%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
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 | $101 | 56% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $104 | 58% |
| Aetna | $105 - $5,939 | 59% |
| Amerigroup | $105 | 59% |
| First Health | $198 - $7,669 | 110% |
| Multiplan | $207 - $14,972 | 116% |
| United | $402 - $7,486 | 224% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $478 | 267% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $2,878 - $8,318 | 1606% |
| Wppa | $2,895 | 1616% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $2,994 | 1671% |
| Medical Associates Health Plan | $3,144 | 1754% |
| Preferred Health Choices | $3,144 | 1754% |
| Spirit Aerosystems | $5,324 | 2971% |
| Triwest Healthcare Alliance | $10,813 | 6034% |
| Usa Managed Care | $14,141 | 7891% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470, representing a CT scan of the head with and without contrast, the cash price at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, is $16,636. This cash rate aligns exactly with the facility's reported cash median. While commercial insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs for patients due to administrative fees and negotiated markups, paying cash upfront can sometimes be more cost-effective if your insurance plan's negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as some in-network contracts may charge significantly more than the cash rate. Additionally, patients should inquire directly with the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within a short window, bypassing the costly insurance claims process.
The facility's pricing structure is evaluated against federal benchmarks to ensure transparency. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $179.20, which serves as a baseline for evaluating commercial pricing; commercial negotiated rates often range from 200% to 300% of this amount, though fair pricing is typically defined between 120% and 150%. In this case, the lowest negotiated rate found across 16 payers is $2,878, while the highest is $14,141, highlighting significant variation in contract terms. If you receive a bill that exceeds these negotiated amounts, it may be due to balance billing from out-of-network ancillary services or errors in the initial claim. Consumers are advised to request a full itemized audit of their