CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Great Plains Of Sabetha
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $630
- Cash Discount Price: $663
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.52x 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 $179.2 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 352% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 252%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Celtic Mcr Adv | $345 | 193% |
| Aetna | $348 - $670 | 194% |
| Celtic Comm Exchange-All Other Plans | $431 | 241% |
| Great West Healthcare-All Plans | $564 | 315% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $617 - $663 | 344% |
| Humana | $630 | 352% |
| Multiplan-Phcs-All Plans | $630 | 352% |
| Cigna | $630 | 352% |
| Century/Wppa/Providers-All Plans | $630 | 352% |
| Federated Mutual Ins-All Plans | $636 | 355% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $663 | 370% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $663 | 370% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470, representing a CT scan of the head with and without contrast, Great Plains Of Sabetha in Sabetha, KS, lists a cash median price of $663.00. This cash rate is notably higher than the facility's negotiated average of $630.00, which aligns closely with the median negotiated rate of $630.00 observed across the 12 payers in this dataset. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial insurance rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. In cases where a patient has a high deductible or no active coverage, paying the cash price directly can sometimes result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to the insurance negotiated rate, provided the patient qualifies for the cash price rather than being billed the full chargemaster.
When evaluating the financial impact of this service, it is important to compare the facility's pricing against federal benchmarks rather than its own gross charges. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $179.20, and the facility's cash rate represents a 3.5x markup relative to this federal baseline. While commercial negotiated rates typically average between 200% and 300% of Medicare, fair pricing standards often fall between 120% and 150%. Patients should verify their specific plan details, as some insurers may have different allowed amounts than the facility's median negotiated rate. Additionally, patients are encouraged to inquire about prompt-pay discounts, which can range from 20% to 50% off the billed amount when paid in full upfront