CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Saint Luke'S South Hospital
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $1,009
- Cash Discount Price: $2,720
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.45x 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 945% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 845%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $60 - $136 | 56% |
| Humana | $72 - $118 | 67% |
| Aetna | $92 - $4,307 | 86% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $114 - $1,009 | 107% |
| Cigna | $118 - $3,441 | 110% |
| Transplants-Case Rates [5750] | $127 - $4,534 | 119% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $185 - $3,405 | 173% |
| Commercial-Contracted [8000] | $959 - $3,668 | 898% |
| First Health [5512] | $2,688 | 2517% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head without contrast at Saint Luke's South Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas, the cash price is $2,720, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $4,534. While the hospital's negotiated rates with major payers like Aetna and Cigna range widely from $92 to over $3,400, the cash price often represents a substantial savings for patients with high-deductible plans or those who can pay upfront. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates frequently exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures; therefore, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these can reduce the final cost by 20% to 50%.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against federal standards, with the Medicare rate for this procedure set at $106.81. The cash price of $2,720 is approximately 9.4 times the Medicare amount, reflecting the typical commercial markup seen in the healthcare industry. Since the data provided does not include specific state or county average comparisons for this procedure, patients should focus on verifying their specific insurance allowed amounts and ensuring they receive an itemized bill rather than a summary invoice. If you receive a bill that appears inflated, request a 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 through formal written disputes.