CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Rooks County Health Center
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $1,817
- Cash Discount Price: $1,514
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.14x 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 1014% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 914%). 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 | 268% |
| Tricare | $949 | 530% |
| Veterans Admin - All Plans | $949 | 530% |
| Celtic Mcr Adv | $949 | 530% |
| Celtic Comm - All Other Plans | $1,044 | 583% |
| Aetna | $1,817 | 1014% |
| Preferred Benefits Admin | $1,817 | 1014% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,817 | 1014% |
| Preferred Hlthcare - All Other Plans | $1,918 | 1070% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $1,918 | 1070% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Plans | $2,019 | 1127% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470, representing a CT scan of the head with and without contrast, the facility's cash median price is $1,514, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by most major insurers. While the facility's negotiated rate of $1,817 matches the state average for this service, patients with high-deductible plans might find paying the cash price of $1,514 more cost-effective if their insurance allowed amount exceeds this figure. It is important to note that commercial payers like Aetna and UnitedHealthcare negotiate rates of $1,817, whereas the Medicare benchmark for this procedure is significantly lower at $179.20, highlighting the substantial markup often found in commercial contracts compared to the federal baseline.
To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a full itemized bill before finalizing payment, as summary invoices can obscure individual line items and potential errors. If you receive a balance bill for the difference between the provider's chargemaster and your insurance allowed amount, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which bans such billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Additionally, ask the hospital about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the cash price by 20% to 50% if paid upfront, effectively bypassing the administrative costs and delays associated with insurance claims processing.