CT scan, head (with contrast)

For the CT scan of the head with contrast (CPT 70460) at Mercy Specialty Hospital Southeast Kansas, the facility's cash median price is $1,713, which is lower than the gross charge of $2,635. While many commercial payers have negotiated rates ranging from $82 to $2,503, the cash price can be a more cost-effective option for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, as it avoids the administrative markup inherent in insurance billing. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still verify their specific plan details and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can significantly lower the final cost.

The facility's pricing is benchmarked against the Medicare rate of $179.20, with the cash median representing approximately 9.5 times the Medicare amount. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this procedure, the wide variance in negotiated rates across 51 different payers highlights that commercial rates can fluctuate significantly based on contract terms. To ensure you are receiving a fair price, we recommend requesting a full itemized bill to review every line item and code, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled charges or services not rendered. If you receive a bill that appears inflated, you have the right to dispute it in writing with the billing supervisor to correct any inaccuracies before payment.