CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Saint Luke'S South Hospital
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $1,009
- Cash Discount Price: $4,665
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.63x 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 563% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 463%). 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 | $101 - $228 | 56% |
| Humana | $123 - $202 | 69% |
| Aetna | $158 - $7,386 | 88% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $187 - $1,009 | 104% |
| Cigna | $197 - $5,901 | 110% |
| Transplants-Case Rates [5750] | $219 - $7,775 | 122% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $253 - $5,839 | 141% |
| Commercial-Contracted [8000] | $959 - $6,290 | 535% |
| First Health [5512] | $4,609 | 2572% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470 (CT scan, head with and without contrast) at Saint Luke's South Hospital in Overland Park, KS, the facility's cash median price is $4,665.00, which is significantly higher than the state average of $1,792.00. While the hospital's negotiated rates for in-network payers like Medicaid/KanCare range from $101 to $228, and Humana rates range from $123 to $202, these figures are often lower than the cash price. This dynamic suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying the cash price directly could result in lower total costs compared to having insurance cover a negotiated rate that exceeds the cash amount.
To ensure you receive the most accurate pricing, it is essential to request a prompt-pay discount or self-pay rate before scheduling your appointment, as these upfront discounts can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. Additionally, if you are using insurance, be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects you from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, you should still demand a full itemized billing audit before paying any invoice. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, verifying the line-by-line charges ensures you are not paying for unnecessary items.