CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Ashland Health Center
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $747
- Cash Discount Price: $598
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.17x 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 417% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 317%). 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 | $250 | 140% |
| Compalliance-All Plans | $598 | 334% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $635 | 354% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $732 | 408% |
| Health Choice-All Plans | $747 | 417% |
| Medicare (plans) | $747 | 417% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $747 | 417% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $747 | 417% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $747 | 417% |
| Medica Mcare - All Plans | $747 | 417% |
| Aetna | $747 | 417% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $1,120 | 625% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470, representing a CT scan of the head with and without contrast, Ashland Health Center in Ashland, Kansas, has a cash median price of $598.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rate of $747.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, the data indicates that for this specific procedure, the negotiated rates across all listed payers, including Medicare and major commercial plans, align with the gross charge of $747.00. This suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $598.00 upfront could result in immediate savings compared to the standard negotiated amount, provided the patient's insurance does not cover the full cost.
It is important to note that while the facility's negotiated rate of $747.00 matches the gross charge, this does not necessarily reflect the highest possible cost, as the data shows no specific county or state average provided for direct comparison. Patients should be aware that hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual line items, so requesting a full itemized CPT-coded statement is essential to verify that no unbundled charges or services not rendered are included. Additionally, since the facility offers a cash median price significantly below the negotiated rate, patients are encouraged to ask about "prompt-pay" discounts or self-pay rates before scheduling, as paying in full upfront can sometimes bypass administrative fees and reduce the final bill.