CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Hamilton County Hospital
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $1,328
- Cash Discount Price: $1,475
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.41x 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 741% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 641%). 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 | 120% |
| First Health Coventry - All Plans | $1,254 | 700% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,401 | 782% |
| Cigna | $1,401 | 782% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $1,475 | 823% |
| Aetna | $2,508 | 1400% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470, representing a CT scan of the head with and without contrast, Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, KS, lists a cash price of $1,475. This cash rate is identical to the facility's negotiated median of $1,401 and the Medicare benchmark of $179.20, which serves as the federal baseline for evaluating hospital pricing markups. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the cash price is significantly higher than the state average for this procedure. Patients with high-deductible plans should consider that paying the cash price directly may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to using insurance, as the negotiated rates for major payers like Aetna ($2,508) and UnitedHealthcare ($1,401) can exceed the cash amount. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to confirm if self-pay or prompt-pay discounts are available before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can bypass administrative costs and provide immediate liquidity benefits.
The data indicates that while the facility's cash rate aligns with its own negotiated median, the commercial negotiated rates vary widely among payers, ranging from $1,254 for First Health Coventry to $2,508 for Aetna. This variation highlights that being in-network does not guarantee the lowest possible price, as different insurers contract at different levels. To ensure you are not overpaying, it is recommended to request a full itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as hospitals often obscure individual code costs in broad categories. Furthermore, if you receive a bill that includes charges for services not rendered or unbundled