MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Rawlins County Health Center
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,601
- Cash Discount Price: $1,564
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.57x 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 657% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 557%). 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 | $526 | 216% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,601 | 657% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas, the facility's cash median price is $1,564.00, which is lower than the negotiated rate of $1,601.00 paid by UnitedHealthcare. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that cash payments can sometimes result in lower out-of-pocket costs if their insurance plan has a high deductible or if the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. It is important to verify the specific "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts available before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final amount owed by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is essential to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the facility's gross charge, which serves as an inflated baseline. The Medicare amount for this code is $243.77, and the facility's cash rate represents a significant markup above this federal baseline. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this exact procedure, understanding that commercial negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare rates helps contextualize the pricing. To ensure accuracy and avoid errors, patients should request a detailed itemized bill that breaks down every CPT code and unit cost, as summary bills often obscure individual charges that could be disputed or corrected.