MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $226
- 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 $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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Via Christi Research | $224 | 92% |
| Va | $224 | 92% |
| Vc Hope | $224 | 92% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $224 | 92% |
| Humana | $224 | 92% |
| Medicare (plans) | $224 - $228 | 92% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $228 - $626 | 94% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $228 | 94% |
| Corizon | $279 | 114% |
| Smarthealth | $313 | 128% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $380 | 156% |
| Cigna | $467 | 192% |
| Aetna | $574 | 235% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $943 | 387% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc, the negotiated rates range from $224 to $574, with a median negotiated amount of $226.00. This facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned hospital located in Wichita, Kansas, and its pricing aligns closely with the state average, as the median negotiated rate is virtually identical to the Medicare benchmark of $243.77. While some commercial payers like Cigna and Aetna have negotiated rates significantly higher at $467 and $574 respectively, the majority of plans, including those from Via Christi Research, VA, and Humana, pay the base rate of $224. Because commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract markups that can exceed 200% of the Medicare cost basis, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price directly could result in lower out-of-pocket costs if the insurance allowed amount exceeds the cash rate.
To ensure you are not overpaying, it is crucial to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Even if your insurance covers the service, you should verify your deductible status and ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the total bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront. Since the facility is in-network for most major payers, balance billing for out-of-network ancillary services is unlikely under the No Surprises Act, but you should still review your final statement line