MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Ashland Health Center
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $767
- Cash Discount Price: $614
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.15x 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 315% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 215%). 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 | $257 | 105% |
| Compalliance-All Plans | $614 | 252% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $652 | 267% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $752 | 308% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $767 | 315% |
| Medicare (plans) | $767 | 315% |
| Aetna | $767 | 315% |
| Medica Mcare - All Plans | $767 | 315% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $767 | 315% |
| Health Choice-All Plans | $767 | 315% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $767 | 315% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $1,150 | 472% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Ashland Health Center in Ashland, KS, the facility's negotiated rates range from $257 to $767 depending on the insurance plan, with a median negotiated amount of $767. This aligns with the facility's median paid amount of $767 and its median negotiated rate of $767, indicating consistent pricing across most major payers including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Compalliance-All Plans, and UnitedHealthcare. While the cash median price is $614, which is lower than the negotiated rates, patients with high-deductible plans should consider that paying out-of-pocket might be more cost-effective if their insurance allows them to exceed the cash price. It is important to note that while Medicaid/KanCare and Medicare plans also pay $767, the cash option remains the lowest fixed price available for this service.
The facility, a Critical Access Hospital in a Voluntary non-profit structure, does not offer a specific facility rating in this report. Consumers should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, it is crucial to verify network status before scheduling. If you receive a bill that appears to include charges beyond the negotiated amount, you should request a formal itemized billing audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes. Additionally, if you choose to pay cash, ask the hospital about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the $614 cash median by 20% to 50% if paid in