CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Ashland Health Center
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $667
- Cash Discount Price: $534
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.24x 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 $106.81 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 624% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 524%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $223 | 209% |
| Compalliance-All Plans | $534 | 500% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $567 | 531% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $654 | 612% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $667 | 624% |
| Medicare (plans) | $667 | 624% |
| Aetna | $667 | 624% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $667 | 624% |
| Health Choice-All Plans | $667 | 624% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $667 | 624% |
| Medica Mcare - All Plans | $667 | 624% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $1,000 | 936% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70450 (CT scan, head without contrast), Ashland Health Center in Ashland, KS, has a gross charge of $667.00. While the facility's negotiated rate for most payers is $667.00, the cash median price is $534.00. This cash price is lower than the negotiated rate, which can be advantageous for patients with high-deductible plans who may not yet have met their out-of-pocket maximum. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this specific procedure, patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as in-network rates vary significantly by payer. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, the final price depends heavily on whether the patient pays out-of-pocket or utilizes insurance coverage.
Patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates often include administrative costs and contract premiums, which can make them higher than the cash price. In this case, the median paid amount is $667.00, which matches the gross charge for several major payers including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Medicaid/KanCare. If you are paying cash, you may be eligible for a prompt-pay discount, which can range from 20% to 50% depending on the facility's policy. To secure the best possible rate, you should explicitly ask the billing department about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before your visit and consider signing a waiver of insurance submission if you choose to pay in full upfront. Additionally, since the Medicare amount for this service is $106.81