CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Kansas Heart Hospital
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $1,665
- Cash Discount Price: $1,166
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 15.59x 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 1559% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1459%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tricare | $87 | 81% |
| Celtic Mcr Adv | $96 | 90% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $96 - $1,850 | 90% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $96 - $1,850 | 90% |
| Humana | $96 | 90% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $462 - $1,850 | 433% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $541 | 507% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $1,665 | 1559% |
| Aetna | $1,804 - $1,850 | 1689% |
| Celtic Mcaid - All Other Plans | $1,850 | 1732% |
| Soonerselect Mcaid - All Plans | $1,850 | 1732% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head without contrast at Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita, the cash price is $1,166, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,850. While the median negotiated rate for in-network insurance payers is $1,665, patients with high-deductible plans might find the cash price more affordable if their insurance allowed amount exceeds this figure. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and can be significantly higher than the cash price; therefore, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling to potentially reduce their out-of-pocket costs.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against Medicare, which sets a fixed reimbursement rate of $106.81 for this procedure. The cash price of $1,166 represents a 15.6% increase over the Medicare rate, illustrating the markup typical of commercial billing structures. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a detailed, itemized statement rather than accepting a summary bill, as this allows them to identify unbundled codes or services not rendered. If a balance bill arises from an out-of-network provider, patients should not pay immediately but instead dispute the charge with their insurer to ensure compliance with federal protections like the No Surprises Act.