CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Kansas Medical Center Llc
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $162
- Cash Discount Price: $1,076
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.90x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $101 | 56% |
| Indian Health | $145 | 81% |
| Tricare | $145 | 81% |
| Humana | $162 | 90% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $162 - $437 | 90% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $162 | 90% |
| Medadv_Wellcare | $162 | 90% |
| Three_Rivers | $323 | 180% |
| Aetna | $450 | 251% |
| Wppa | $525 | 293% |
| United | $580 | 324% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470, representing a CT scan of the head with and without contrast, Kansas Medical Center Llc in Andover, KS, lists a gross charge of $1,794.00. While the facility's cash median price is $1,076.00, commercial insurance negotiated rates vary significantly by payer, ranging from $101 for Medicaid/KanCare plans to $580 for United. These negotiated amounts are notably higher than the facility's cash price, illustrating that for patients with high-deductible plans or those who have met their deductible, paying the cash median of $1,076.00 upfront could result in substantial savings compared to the insurance allowed amounts. Patients should proactively request self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can bypass administrative fees and reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%.
When evaluating the cost of this procedure, it is important to compare the facility's pricing against objective benchmarks rather than the inflated gross charge. The Medicare benchmark for this service is $179.20, which serves as the scientifically validated baseline for healthcare delivery costs. The facility's cash rate of $1,076.00 represents a markup relative to this federal standard, while the median negotiated rate of $162.00 reflects the specific contract dynamics between the hospital and commercial payers. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, consumers are advised to demand a full itemized bill before paying and to verify that no balance billing is occurring, especially if any ancillary services were rendered by out-of-network providers. Always confirm your