CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: Rawlins County Health Center
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $896
- Cash Discount Price: $876
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.00x 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 500% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 400%). 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 | $458 | 256% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $896 | 500% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head with contrast at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas, the facility's cash price is $876.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates of $896.00 paid by UnitedHealthcare and $458.00 paid by Blue Cross Blue Shield. While the cash rate is competitive, it is important to note that commercial insurance contracts often result in higher allowed amounts than self-pay prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price upfront more beneficial if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash amount, effectively bypassing the administrative costs associated with claims processing.
This procedure is billed under CPT code 70460, and the facility's cash rate is 5.0% higher than the Medicare benchmark of $179.20, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this service, patients should be aware that commercial rates frequently include multi-layered administrative structures that can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40%. To ensure you receive the best possible rate, it is recommended to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can offer significant fee reductions for upfront payment. Additionally, if you have insurance, verify your deductible status before scheduling, as paying out-of-pocket may be more cost-effective if your plan's allowed amount is higher than the cash price.