CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: Wesley Medical Center
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $2,464
- Cash Discount Price: $14,240
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 13.75x 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 1375% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1275%). 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 - $5,084 | 59% |
| Amerigroup | $105 | 59% |
| First Health | $165 - $6,565 | 92% |
| Multiplan | $172 - $12,816 | 96% |
| United | $402 - $6,408 | 224% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $478 | 267% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $2,464 - $7,120 | 1375% |
| Wppa | $2,478 | 1383% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $2,563 | 1430% |
| Medical Associates Health Plan | $2,691 | 1502% |
| Preferred Health Choices | $2,691 | 1502% |
| Spirit Aerosystems | $4,557 | 2543% |
| Triwest Healthcare Alliance | $9,256 | 5165% |
| Usa Managed Care | $12,104 | 6754% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70460, representing a CT scan of the head with contrast at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, the cash median price is $14,240. This cash rate is significantly higher than the state average, which is $179.20 based on Medicare benchmarking. While commercial insurance plans like Aetna and First Health offer negotiated rates ranging from $105 to $6,565, these amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning self-pay patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying directly. However, patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount and check for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if settled upfront.
It is important to distinguish between the facility's gross charge of $14,240 and the actual amounts paid by insurers, as commercial contracts often include administrative overhead that inflates the baseline price. If a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider or encounters unexpected ancillary services, they may face balance billing for the difference between the provider's full rate and the insurance allowed amount, though the No Surprises Act protects against this for emergency and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To avoid errors, consumers should request a detailed, itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes such as unbundled codes or charges for services not rendered.