CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $166
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.93x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vc Hope | $165 | 92% |
| Via Christi Research | $165 | 92% |
| Medicare (plans) | $165 - $168 | 92% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $165 | 92% |
| Humana | $165 | 92% |
| Va | $165 | 92% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $168 - $461 | 94% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $168 | 94% |
| Corizon | $206 | 115% |
| Smarthealth | $230 | 128% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $280 | 156% |
| Aetna | $445 - $493 | 248% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470 (CT scan, head with and without contrast) at Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc, the negotiated rates range from $165 to $493 depending on the payer. The lowest negotiated amount is $165, which aligns with the rates for several major payers including Medicare, Humana, and Va. However, the highest negotiated rate is $493 for Aetna, which is significantly higher than the facility's median negotiated rate of $166.00. While the facility is a Voluntary non-profit - Church located in Wichita, KS, the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure, so patients should rely on the facility's own negotiated rates and the Medicare benchmark of $179.20 as a baseline for fair pricing.
Patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract dynamics, meaning paying out-of-pocket might result in a lower total cost if the insurance allowed amount is high. Although the facility's cash and median paid values are not listed in the current data, patients are encouraged to ask directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% when paid upfront. Additionally, if a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility, they may face balance billing for services not covered by the No Surprises Act, such as certain ancillary services; in such cases, patients should dispute any surprise bills with the insurer rather than paying immediately. Finally, before finalizing payment, patients should request a full itemized bill to ensure no