MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Stevens County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $770
- Cash Discount Price: $885
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.16x 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 316% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 216%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $327 | 134% |
| Aetna | $337 - $885 | 138% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $525 - $553 | 215% |
| First Health - All Plans | $796 | 327% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $841 | 345% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $885 | 363% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, KS, the cash price is $885.00, which matches the facility's gross chargemaster rate. This cash rate is significantly higher than the state average for this service, which is $770.00. While commercial insurance plans like Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated rates ranging from $327 to $885, these amounts often exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead and contract structures. Patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find that paying the cash price of $885.00 upfront is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which could result in higher out-of-pocket costs if the negotiated allowed amount exceeds the cash rate.
To minimize potential billing surprises, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as many in-network rates are subject to deductible accumulation. If a patient chooses to pay out-of-pocket, they should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount at the time of registration, as hospitals often offer fee reductions for upfront payments that bypass the costly insurance claims process. Additionally, patients should avoid accepting summary bills and instead demand a full itemized statement to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, ensuring that the final charge aligns with the negotiated or cash rate rather than the inflated chargemaster list.