CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Hamilton County Hospital
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $1,188
- Cash Discount Price: $1,300
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 11.12x 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 1112% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1012%). 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 | $215 - $480 | 201% |
| First Health Coventry - All Plans | $1,062 - $1,148 | 994% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,188 - $1,282 | 1112% |
| Cigna | $1,188 - $1,282 | 1112% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $1,250 - $1,350 | 1170% |
| Aetna | $2,125 - $2,295 | 1990% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this CT scan of the head (no contrast) at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, KS, the cash price is $1,300.00, which matches the facility's median paid amount. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the negotiated rates for major payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield range from $215 to $480, significantly lower than the cash price. However, for patients with high-deductible plans, paying cash upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates for many insurers exceed the cash price. It is important to note that while the facility offers prompt-pay discounts, these should be requested before scheduling to ensure the billing system classifies the service as self-pay, avoiding automatic claims submission that could void the discount.
When evaluating the cost, it is crucial to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's gross charge. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $106.81, meaning the cash price of $1,300.00 represents a substantial markup above the federal baseline. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this code, the significant difference between the Medicare rate and the cash price highlights the importance of understanding the true cost structure. Patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency services at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act, but they must still review their itemized bills carefully to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included.