CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Logan County Hospital
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $1,031
- Cash Discount Price: $375
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.65x 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 965% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 865%). 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 | $480 | 449% |
| Humana | $636 | 595% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $1,425 | 1334% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,500 | 1404% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head without contrast at Logan County Hospital in Oakley, Kansas, the facility's cash median rate is $375.00, while the negotiated rate paid by most commercial insurers is $1,031.00. This significant difference highlights that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying out-of-pocket upfront can be far more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rate often exceeds the cash price. The facility, a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, lists a cash median of $375.00, which is substantially lower than the commercial negotiated rates observed for this procedure. Patients should explicitly ask for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can bypass the administrative costs and claim processing fees that inflate insurance bills.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is important to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's gross chargemaster list. The Medicare amount for this code is $106.81, and the facility's negotiated rate of $1,031.00 represents a substantial markup above this federal baseline. While the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this exact procedure, the principle remains that commercial rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare, whereas fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150%. To ensure you are not overpaying, always request an itemized bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, and never accept a summary bill as your final invoice.