MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Kearny County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,463
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.00x 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 600% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 500%). 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 | $1,463 | 600% |
| Community Care Health Plan Of | $1,463 | 600% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, KS, the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Community Care Health Plan Of are set at $1,463. This amount matches the facility's median negotiated rate exactly, reflecting the specific contract terms for this service. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the data indicates a significant gap between what insurance plans pay and the cash price. Although the cash median is not listed in this specific dataset, patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance should be aware that paying cash upfront can sometimes result in a lower total cost than the insurance negotiated rate of $1,463, provided the facility offers a self-pay or prompt-pay discount.
To determine the true cost, it is essential to compare these rates against the Medicare benchmark, which stands at $243.77 for this procedure. The facility's negotiated rate of $1,463 represents a 600% increase over the Medicare amount, highlighting the markup inherent in commercial insurance contracts. Since the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this exact code, patients should request an itemized bill to verify that no unbundled charges or services not rendered are included. If you are self-pay, ask the billing department specifically about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the total by 20% to 50% if paid in full within 30 days, effectively bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.