MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Greenwood County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,084
- Cash Discount Price: $1,026
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.45x 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 445% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 345%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Triwest - All Plans | $458 | 188% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $495 - $521 | 203% |
| Tricare | $539 | 221% |
| Choicecare Mcr Adv - All Plans | $539 | 221% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $539 - $1,078 | 221% |
| Integrated Health Plan - All Plans | $962 | 395% |
| First Health Ccn Network | $1,091 | 448% |
| Beech Street - All Plans | $1,091 | 448% |
| First Health - All Other Plans | $1,091 | 448% |
| Preferred Hs (Coventry) - All Plans | $1,155 | 474% |
| Principal Health Care Inc - All Plans | $1,219 | 500% |
| Amerigroup Mcaid-All Plans | $1,283 | 526% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,283 | 526% |
| Providrs Care/Wppa - All Plans | $1,924 | 789% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this MRI of the brain without contrast at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka, Kansas, the cash price is $1,026, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,283. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract structures. For instance, the median negotiated rate across payers is $1,084, and the highest allowed amount listed is $1,924. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price of $1,026 upfront might result in immediate savings compared to your insurance paying its negotiated rate, especially if you have not yet met your deductible. Always ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these can further reduce the final amount owed.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $243.77, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The cash price of $1,026 represents a significant increase over the Medicare rate, reflecting the costs of local wages and facility operations in the 67045 zip code. While the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this exact procedure, it is important to understand that commercial rates are often inflated relative to the federal baseline. To avoid unexpected costs, patients should request an itemized bill to verify that no services were unbundled or double-charged, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors. If you receive a balance bill from an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility, you may be protected under