CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Ellinwood District Hospital
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $490
- Cash Discount Price: $595
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.73x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 273% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 173%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cigna | $490 | 273% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $490 | 273% |
| Aetna | $490 | 273% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $490 | 273% |
| Humana | $490 | 273% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470 (CT scan, head with and without contrast), Ellinwood District Hospital in Kansas has a gross charge of $700.00, which is significantly higher than the state average. However, the facility's negotiated rate of $490.00 aligns perfectly with the state average, while the cash price of $595.00 is lower than the negotiated amount. This pricing structure suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $595.00 upfront could result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to the $490.00 allowed amount paid by insurance carriers like Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna. Since the cash price is already below the negotiated rate, there is no financial benefit to waiting for insurance to process the claim, and patients should verify if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling.
The facility's pricing reflects a standard markup over the Medicare benchmark of $179.20, with the negotiated rate representing approximately 273% of the Medicare amount. While commercial rates often average between 200% and 300% of Medicare, this specific code shows a negotiated rate that is 2.7 times the Medicare amount, consistent with typical industry markups. To ensure you are receiving the most accurate billing information, it is recommended to request an itemized bill that lists specific CPT codes rather than accepting a summary invoice, as this helps identify any unbundled charges or services not rendered. Additionally, if you encounter a balance bill for out-of-network ancillary services, remember that the