MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Wesley Medical Center
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $2,966
- Cash Discount Price: $17,146
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 12.17x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 1217% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1117%). 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 | $131 | 54% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $135 | 55% |
| Aetna | $136 - $6,121 | 56% |
| Amerigroup | $136 | 56% |
| First Health | $243 - $7,904 | 100% |
| Multiplan | $254 - $15,431 | 104% |
| United | $518 - $7,716 | 212% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $531 | 218% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $2,966 - $8,573 | 1217% |
| Wppa | $2,983 | 1224% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $3,086 | 1266% |
| Medical Associates Health Plan | $3,241 | 1330% |
| Preferred Health Choices | $3,241 | 1330% |
| Spirit Aerosystems | $5,487 | 2251% |
| Triwest Healthcare Alliance | $11,145 | 4572% |
| Usa Managed Care | $14,574 | 5979% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain (no contrast) at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, the cash price is $17,146.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate. This cash price is significantly higher than the state average for this procedure, which is $243.77 (Medicare rate), and notably higher than the lowest negotiated rates found among commercial payers, such as UnitedHealthcare and Medicaid/KanCare, which are around $131. While commercial insurance plans like Aetna and First Health offer negotiated rates ranging from $136 to $7,904, these amounts often exceed the cash price for patients with high-deductible plans. In such cases, paying the cash price directly can result in immediate savings compared to the insurance negotiated rate, provided the patient has met their deductible.
Patients should verify their specific plan details before scheduling, as commercial rates vary widely by payer and can sometimes be substantially higher than the cash option. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, unexpected ancillary charges or emergency services may still trigger additional bills. To minimize costs, patients should request a prompt-pay discount or self-pay rate directly from the hospital before check-in, as these upfront discounts can reduce the final amount owed. Additionally, if a patient receives an itemized bill, they should request a full line-by-line audit to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected to lower the total debt.