CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $601
- Cash Discount Price: $633
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.63x 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 563% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 463%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tricare | $507 | 475% |
| Humana | $576 | 539% |
| Aetna | $585 - $633 | 548% |
| Hpk-All Plans | $601 | 563% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $601 | 563% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $633 | 593% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this CT scan of the head (no contrast) at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital in Medicine Lodge, KS, the cash price is $633.00, which matches the facility's gross charge and the median amount paid by Medicaid/KanCare. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, the negotiated rates for in-network payers like Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare range from $576 to $633, meaning patients with active insurance may pay the same or slightly less than the cash price depending on their specific plan. It is important to note that cash-pay can sometimes be cheaper for patients with high-deductible plans if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price, though in this specific case, the cash rate is already at the maximum negotiated amount for most carriers.
To ensure you are not overcharged, you should request an itemized billing audit before paying, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes. If you receive a surprise bill from an out-of-network provider, the No Surprises Act generally protects you from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, so you should dispute any unexpected charges with your insurer rather than paying immediately. Additionally, since the facility is a Critical Access Hospital, you should ask about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.