CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $1,195
- Cash Discount Price: $727
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 11.19x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 1119% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1019%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $60 | 56% |
| Medicare (plans) | $60 | 56% |
| Aetna | $60 - $1,453 | 56% |
| Kaiser | $60 | 56% |
| Kansas Health | $60 | 56% |
| Cigna | $60 | 56% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $60 - $565 | 56% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $337 | 316% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,195 | 1119% |
| Wpaa | $1,272 | 1191% |
| Christian Health Aid | $1,453 | 1360% |
| Multiplan | $1,453 - $1,635 | 1360% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $1,635 | 1531% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head without contrast at Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City, the facility's cash median price is $727.00, which is significantly lower than the state average of $1,070.00. While many insurance plans negotiate rates ranging from $60 to $1,635, the cash price often represents the most affordable option for patients with high-deductible plans or those without coverage, as it bypasses the administrative overhead and markup inherent in commercial contracts. Patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can further lower the total cost by avoiding the complex claims processing that inflates insurance-based pricing.
It is important to understand that commercial negotiated rates often exceed the true cost of care, which is best measured against the Medicare benchmark of $106.81 for this procedure. In this case, the median negotiated rate of $1,195.00 is approximately 11.2 times higher than the Medicare amount, illustrating how commercial contracts can result in substantially higher charges compared to federal standards. If you are billed for the difference between the provider's full charge and your insurance payment, this is known as balance billing; however, federal protections under the No Surprises Act generally prevent this for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure accuracy, always request a detailed, itemized bill rather than a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-charging or unbundled codes that can be corrected through a formal written audit.