MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: University Of Ks Hlth System Great Bend Campus
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $966
- Cash Discount Price: $584
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.96x 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 $243.77 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 396% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 296%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ku Athletics [503200094] | $223 | 91% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $223 | 91% |
| Workers Comp [503999901] | $223 | 91% |
| Medicare (plans) | $227 | 93% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $229 | 94% |
| Allwell [503200078] | $229 | 94% |
| Tricare | $235 | 96% |
| Triwest [503201703] | $235 | 96% |
| Humana | $235 | 96% |
| Centurion [5032000966] | $290 | 119% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $323 | 133% |
| Fort Hays State Student Athletes [5032000960] | $468 | 192% |
| Occunet [503999930] | $468 | 192% |
| 6 Degrees Health [503999050] | $557 | 228% |
| Advanced Medical Pricing Solutions [503301513] | $705 | 289% |
| Wppa [503200056] | $1,227 | 503% |
| Alt Wppa [5032000964] | $1,227 | 503% |
| Meritain Health [503200039] | $1,227 - $1,753 | 503% |
| Alt Carelon Behavioral Health [503200905] | $1,460 | 599% |
| National Assn Letter Carriers [503200019] | $1,753 | 719% |
| Cigna | $1,753 - $2,337 | 719% |
| Aha-Healthcare Preferred [503200050] | $1,753 | 719% |
| Php [503200005] | $1,753 | 719% |
| Allied National [503999937] | $1,753 | 719% |
| Aetna | $1,753 | 719% |
| Alt Meritain Health [503999911] | $1,753 | 719% |
| First Health [5032000110] | $1,753 | 719% |
| Correct Care Solutions [50311253] | $2,045 | 839% |
| Usa Managed Care [503999030] | $2,629 | 1078% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain (no contrast) at the University of KS Health System Great Bend Campus, the facility's cash median price of $584.00 is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by most commercial payers, which range from $223 to $2,629. While Medicare sets a benchmark of $243.77 for this service, the facility's cash rate is roughly 2.4 times the Medicare amount, yet still offers substantial savings compared to the high-end negotiated rates seen with carriers like Cigna or USA Managed Care. Patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price upfront is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead and contract structures. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as some in-network contracts may result in higher out-of-pocket costs than the cash rate.
To minimize unexpected charges, patients should proactively ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the total bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full before or shortly after the service. Since hospitals often submit claims to insurance automatically, signing a waiver of insurance submission at registration is crucial to ensure the cash discount applies without triggering a balance bill for the difference between the chargemaster and the insurance allowed amount. Additionally, if you receive an itemized bill, request a full line-by-line audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected to lower your final payment.