CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Wichita County Health Center
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $1,144
- Cash Discount Price: $1,003
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.38x 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 638% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 538%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,035 | 578% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,254 | 700% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head at Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas, the facility's cash price is $1,003, which is lower than the state average of $1,035. While Medicaid / KanCare members pay the same amount as the cash rate ($1,035), UnitedHealthcare members are billed the full gross charge of $1,254. This significant difference highlights that commercial negotiated rates can sometimes exceed cash prices; if you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price of $1,003 upfront might save you money compared to your insurance's allowed amount. Before scheduling, it is essential to confirm whether your plan is truly in-network and to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts that could further reduce the cost.
To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a detailed itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice that obscures individual line items. This audit helps identify errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, which are common in hospital billing. Additionally, this rate can be evaluated against the Medicare benchmark of $179.20; the commercial negotiated rate of $1,254 represents a substantial markup compared to the federal baseline. If you receive a balance bill for the difference between the insurance allowed amount and the full charge, you may be entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act, particularly if the service was emergency care or provided at an in-network facility.