MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Clara Barton Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,576
- Cash Discount Price: $1,226
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.47x 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 647% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 547%). 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 | $521 | 214% |
| 6 Degrees Health - All Plans | $1,226 | 503% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $1,401 - $1,402 | 575% |
| Aetna | $1,576 - $1,577 | 647% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,576 - $1,577 | 647% |
| Phcs - All Plans | $1,576 - $1,577 | 647% |
| Hlth Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $1,611 - $1,612 | 661% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain (no contrast) at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, KS, the cash median price is $1,226, while the median negotiated rate across seven payers is $1,576. This suggests that paying out-of-pocket could result in lower costs for patients with high-deductible plans, as the cash price is significantly lower than the typical insurance allowed amount. However, patients should verify if the facility offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final bill by paying upfront. It is important to note that while the cash rate is lower than the negotiated average, the facility's cash price is still higher than the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, indicating a substantial markup relative to the federal government's fixed reimbursement rate.
The facility is a Critical Access Hospital in a Voluntary non-profit - Private ownership structure, and the data reflects pricing for the 2026-06 vintage. Although specific county or state average comparisons are not provided in the current dataset, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead that can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40% compared to direct cash payments. If a patient receives a bill from an out-of-network provider at this facility, they may encounter balance billing for the difference between the provider's full charge and the insurance allowed amount, though the No Surprises Act protects against such surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Consumers are advised to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the total.