CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $207
- Cash Discount Price: $1,043
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.16x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $161 - $565 | 90% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $161 - $458 | 90% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $165 - $534 | 92% |
| Cigna | $424 | 237% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470, representing a CT scan of the head with and without contrast, Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center in Wichita, KS lists a cash median price of $1,043.00, which is slightly lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,049.00. While the facility is a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital, the data does not provide a specific county or state average for this procedure to compare against. However, it is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price directly can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance if the insurer's negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. In this case, the median negotiated rate across payers is $207.00, which is significantly lower than the cash price, suggesting that using an in-network plan may result in lower out-of-pocket costs once deductibles are met.
Commercial insurance rates for this service vary widely among payers, ranging from $161 to $565, with Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield showing the highest upper limits at $565 and $458 respectively. The Medicare benchmark for this code is $179.20, indicating that commercial rates are substantially higher than the federal baseline. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as many plans will not cover costs until that threshold is reached. Additionally, if you choose to pay out-of-pocket, ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final amount owed by offering immediate liquidity incentives.