CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: F W Huston Medical Center
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $1,097
- Cash Discount Price: $1,140
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.27x 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 1027% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 927%). 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 | $458 | 429% |
| Aetna | $1,069 | 1001% |
| Humana | $1,126 | 1054% |
| Cigna | $1,211 | 1134% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head without contrast at F W Huston Medical Center in Winchester, KS, the cash price is $1,140, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $1,097 to $1,211 depending on your specific insurance carrier. While this facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, the cash rate is notably higher than the state average for this procedure. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price upfront may be more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for payers like Aetna and Humana exceed the cash amount. To secure the lowest possible rate, you should contact the hospital directly to confirm if a "prompt-pay" discount is available for upfront payment, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $106.81, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. Although the facility's gross charge is $1,425, the actual amount paid by insurance is typically capped at the negotiated rate, which remains significantly above the Medicare amount. It is important to note that the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, but you should still request an itemized bill to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. Before scheduling, verify your deductible status and ask the billing department to classify your visit as self-pay to avoid automatic claims submission, which could void any potential cash discounts.