CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: Graham County Hospital
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $467
- Cash Discount Price: $600
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.61x 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 261% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 161%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $245 | 137% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $245 - $570 | 137% |
| Medicare (plans) | $450 | 251% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $453 | 253% |
| Celtic Commercial-All Other Plans | $495 | 276% |
| Wppa (Providers Care)-All Plans | $570 | 318% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this CT scan of the head with contrast at Graham County Hospital in Hill City, Kansas, the cash price is $600.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $467.00 and the median paid amount of $495.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the cash price is notably higher than the Medicare benchmark of $179.20, reflecting a markup of 2.6 times the federal rate. This pricing structure suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, paying the cash price directly may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates paid by commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield range from $450 to $570. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as meeting the deductible could result in higher out-of-pocket costs compared to the cash rate.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is critical to request a full itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. If you receive a large bill after using insurance, do not pay immediately; instead, dispute any charges that do not match the itemized CPT codes and request a formal audit via certified mail to the billing supervisor. Additionally, ask the hospital about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50% if you pay in full upfront, bypassing the administrative overhead and collection fees associated with insurance claims. Since the facility is in-network for most major pay