CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Rooks County Health Center
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $1,581
- Cash Discount Price: $1,317
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 14.80x 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 1480% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1380%). 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 | $480 | 449% |
| Tricare | $826 | 773% |
| Celtic Mcr Adv | $826 | 773% |
| Veterans Admin - All Plans | $826 | 773% |
| Celtic Comm - All Other Plans | $908 | 850% |
| Aetna | $1,581 | 1480% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,581 | 1480% |
| Preferred Benefits Admin | $1,581 | 1480% |
| Preferred Hlthcare - All Other Plans | $1,669 | 1563% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $1,669 | 1563% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Plans | $1,756 | 1644% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70450, representing a CT scan of the head without contrast, Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas, lists a gross charge of $1,757.00. The facility's cash median price is $1,317.00, which is notably lower than the median negotiated rate of $1,581.00 paid by commercial payers like Aetna and UnitedHealthcare. This price difference highlights a potential savings opportunity for patients with high-deductible plans, as paying the cash price directly may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to the administrative overhead embedded in insurance negotiated rates. Additionally, the facility offers a prompt-pay discount for upfront billing, which can further reduce the final amount owed by bypassing standard claims processing fees.
When evaluating the cost relative to federal standards, the facility's Medicare amount of $106.81 serves as the objective baseline for pricing. The gross charge of $1,757.00 represents a significant markup compared to this benchmark, illustrating the common practice where commercial rates exceed Medicare rates by a wide margin. While the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this procedure, patients are encouraged to verify the facility's "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" rates before scheduling to ensure they are receiving the most favorable pricing available. It is also important to request an itemized bill to review the specific CPT codes and avoid unexpected charges, as over 80% of hospital bills often contain errors or unbundled services that can be disputed.