CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Mercy Hospital Columbus
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $1,413
- Cash Discount Price: $1,265
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 13.23x 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 $106.81 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 1323% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1223%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Centivo Contracted [320505] | $20 | 19% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $57 - $1,413 | 53% |
| Humana | $57 - $1,849 | 53% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $91 - $1,615 | 85% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $91 - $1,413 | 85% |
| Medicare (plans) | $100 - $1,469 | 94% |
| Health Systems Inc Contracted [320174] | $837 | 784% |
| Insurance System Inc Contracted [320465] | $837 | 784% |
| Administrative Payor Contracted [320005] | $876 | 820% |
| Qual Choice Contracted [320325] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Aetna | $1,413 - $1,751 | 1323% |
| Provider Partners Health Plans Contracted [320450] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Cigna | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Halo Hcr Inc Hospice Contracted [320432] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Kindful Hospice Contracted [320434] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Globalhealth Contracted [320145] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Mercy Mgd Behavioral Health Contracted [320259] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Novasys Contracted [320285] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Indian Health Service Contracted [320198] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Mercy Hospice Okc [20252] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Home State Health Plan Contracted [320187] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Elara Caring Aspire Hospice [20433] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Cherokee Nation Health Serv Contracted [320066] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Dept Of Veteran Affairs Contracted [320106] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Halo Hcr Inc Hospice [20432] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Kindful Hospice [20434] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Centurion Of Missouri [20459] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Cross Timbers Hospice [20098] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Medical Associates Health Contracted [320444] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Pace Of The Ozarks Contracted [320518] | $1,413 | 1323% |
| Tricare | $1,417 | 1327% |
| Healthscope Contracted [320182] | $1,500 | 1404% |
| Workers Comp [20426] | $1,557 - $1,654 | 1458% |
| United Medical Resources Contracted [320454] | $1,615 - $1,849 | 1512% |
| Medica Contracted [320239] | $1,744 | 1633% |
| Healthlink Contracted [320179] | $1,751 - $1,849 | 1639% |
| Preferred Health Plan Contracted [320522] | $1,751 | 1639% |
| American Healthcare Alliance Contracted [320020] | $1,751 | 1639% |
| Mercy Benefit Admin Contracted [320251] | $1,751 - $1,849 | 1639% |
| Federal Medical Center Contracted [320127] | $1,751 | 1639% |
| First Health Contracted [320128] | $1,751 | 1639% |
| Usa Managed Care Org Contracted [320429] | $1,751 | 1639% |
| Ebms Contracted [320493] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Reflect Health Contracted [320492] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| 90 Degree Benefits Contracted [320436] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Ppo Plus Contracted [320310] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Yuzu Health Contracted [320521] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Aither Health Contracted [320449] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Edison Health Solutions Contracted [320502] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Show-Me Health Administrators Contracted [320483] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Private Health Care Systems Contracted [320320] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Auxiant Contracted [320462] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Imagine 360 Contracted [320494] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Benefit Management Contracted [320052] | $1,849 | 1731% |
| Point C Contracted [320238] | $1,849 | 1731% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CT scan of the head (no contrast) at Mercy Hospital Columbus, the facility's cash price of $1,265 is lower than the median negotiated rate of $1,413 paid by most insurance plans. This difference highlights a common billing dynamic where commercial contracts often include administrative overhead that inflates the final price above the cash-pay rate. While the facility's cash price is also lower than the gross chargemaster of $1,946, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which could result in higher out-of-pocket costs if the deductible has not yet been met. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to confirm if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the total amount owed.
The facility's pricing is also contextualized by the Medicare benchmark, which stands at $106.81 for this procedure. The cash price of $1,265 represents a significant markup relative to this federal baseline, reflecting the costs of specialized care and facility operations. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this exact code, the presence of a wide range of negotiated rates among payers—from as low as $20 for some contracted plans to over $1,800 for others—underscores the importance of verifying your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling. To ensure you are receiving the best possible rate, patients should request an itemized bill to review all charges and avoid balance billing, which is generally prohibited for in-network services at this facility under federal protections.