MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Lane County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $875
- Cash Discount Price: $875
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.59x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 359% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 259%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $788 - $831 | 323% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $788 - $875 | 323% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $875 | 359% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $875 | 359% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $875 - $962 | 359% |
| Wppa Providers-All Plans | $1,312 | 538% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Lane County Hospital in Dighton, KS, the cash price is $875.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate and the state average for this service. This code is billed under CPT 70551, and while the Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $243.77, the cash price aligns with the median paid amount across payers. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price of $875.00 more cost-effective than using insurance, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead and contract structures. It is important to verify your specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying out-of-pocket can sometimes result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to the insurance allowed amount.
The facility, a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, lists six payers, with rates ranging from $788 to $1,312 depending on the insurance carrier. Notably, Healthy Blue Mcaid and Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans have a fixed rate of $875.00, matching the cash price, while Medicaid/KanCare plans show a range up to $962.00. To potentially lower your bill, patients should ask the hospital directly about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce costs by 20% to 50% for upfront payments. Additionally, if you receive an itemized bill, request a full line-by-line audit to identify any errors, double-billing, or unbundled codes, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes