CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Cheyenne County Hospital
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $732
- Cash Discount Price: $655
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.85x 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 685% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 585%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $215 - $770 | 201% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $453 | 424% |
| First Health - All Plans | $539 | 505% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $554 | 519% |
| Tricare | $554 | 519% |
| Aetna | $554 - $732 | 519% |
| Choice Care - All Plans | $560 | 524% |
| Firstguard - All Plans | $616 | 577% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $693 | 649% |
| Cpm - All Plans | $732 | 685% |
| Preferred Hc - All Plans | $732 | 685% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $747 | 699% |
| Unicare - All Plans | $755 | 707% |
| Ppo Next - All Plans | $755 | 707% |
| Integrated Hp - All Plans | $755 | 707% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $755 | 707% |
| Childrens Mercy - All Plans | $770 | 721% |
| Healthwave Mcaid - All Plans | $770 | 721% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $770 | 721% |
| Providers Care-All Plans | $1,155 | 1081% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70450, representing a CT scan of the head without contrast, the gross charge at Cheyenne County Hospital is $770. While the facility's cash median rate of $655 is lower than the gross charge, it is important to note that many commercial payers negotiate rates that exceed this cash price; for instance, UnitedHealthcare's negotiated range spans from $215 to $770, and Aetna's range is $539 to $732. This dynamic suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $655 upfront could result in significant savings compared to having insurance cover a negotiated rate that may be higher. Additionally, patients should inquire directly with the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final amount owed before any insurance claims are processed.
When evaluating the cost of this procedure, it is more accurate to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's inflated chargemaster list. The Medicare amount for this service is $106.81, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of delivery. Commercial negotiated rates often average between 200% and 300% of Medicare, whereas fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150% of the Medicare rate. Given that the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in St. Francis, KS, and the data reflects the 2026-06 vintage, consumers should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency or non-emergency services at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act