MRI, brain (with and without contrast)
Facility: Kearny County Hospital
Billing Code: 70553 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70553
- Insurance Median: $1,830
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.13x 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 $356.43 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 513% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 413%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $1,132 | 318% |
| Aetna | $1,830 | 513% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,830 | 513% |
| Wps Gha - Mac J5 Part A | $1,830 | 513% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,830 | 513% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (with and without contrast) procedure at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, KS, the facility's negotiated rate is $1,830.00, which matches the median negotiated rate across all payers. This amount is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $356.43, reflecting the typical markup found in commercial contracts. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that cash-pay options are not listed in this report; however, asking the hospital directly about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts is often the most effective way to reduce out-of-pocket costs, especially if your insurance deductible has not yet been met.
It is important to distinguish between the facility's negotiated rate and potential balance billing risks. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, unexpected charges can still occur if ancillary services like lab work or specific physician services are billed out-of-network. If you receive a bill that appears to include these unexpected charges, you should request a formal itemized audit to verify that every code corresponds to a service actually rendered and that no unbundled charges exist. Disputing errors in writing is the most reliable method to ensure your bill aligns with the agreed-upon negotiated rate or applicable federal protections.