MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Wichita County Health Center
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,048
- Cash Discount Price: $918
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.30x 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 430% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 330%). 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 | $947 | 388% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,148 | 471% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas, the facility's cash median rate of $918.00 is notably lower than the state average of $1,148.00, which aligns exactly with the negotiated rate charged by UnitedHealthcare. While Medicaid / KanCare pays the same $947.00 as the state average, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more advantageous if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash amount. It is important to note that commercial rates often include administrative overhead for claims processing, whereas paying cash upfront can bypass these costs. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is essential to compare rates against the federal Medicare benchmark rather than the facility's gross list price. The Medicare amount for this code is $243.77, and the facility's cash rate of $918.00 represents a markup of 4.3 times the Medicare amount. While commercial negotiated rates typically average 200% to 300% of Medicare, the specific contract with UnitedHealthcare sets a fixed rate of $1,148.00. Consumers should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for in-network services under the No Surprises Act, but they must ensure they do not sign away rights to dispute out-of-network ancillary services. If a surprise bill arises, patients should request a formal itemized audit to verify that