MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Logan County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,374
- Cash Discount Price: $500
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.64x 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 $243.77 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 564% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 464%). 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 | $553 | 227% |
| Humana | $848 | 348% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $1,900 | 779% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $2,000 | 820% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Logan County Hospital in Oakley, Kansas, the facility's cash price of $500 is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by commercial insurers, which range from $553 for Blue Cross Blue Shield to $2,000 for Medicaid/KanCare. This price difference highlights a common billing dynamic where commercial contracts often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and multi-layered payer structures. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients should verify their specific plan details, as paying cash upfront can sometimes result in lower out-of-pocket costs if their insurance negotiated rate is higher than the cash price. It is important to check with the hospital directly for potential "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final bill by bypassing the standard insurance claims processing cycle.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is essential to compare the facility's rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's full chargemaster list. The Medicare allowed amount for this procedure is $243.77, and the facility's cash rate of $500 represents a markup of 5.6 times the Medicare rate. Although commercial negotiated rates are generally higher than cash prices, they are often still below the full chargemaster gross of $2,000, demonstrating that in-network status does not guarantee the lowest possible price. Consumers should request an itemized bill to ensure no errors exist, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies, and should avoid signing consent waivers that could inadvertently allow for balance billing from out-of-network ancillary services.