CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Stanton County Hospital
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $1,587
- Cash Discount Price: $1,670
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 14.86x 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 1486% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1386%). 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 | $456 - $1,587 | 427% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $1,636 | 1532% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $1,670 | 1564% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this CT scan of the head (no contrast) at Stanton County Hospital in Johnson, KS, the cash price is $1,670, which matches the facility's gross chargemaster rate. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the data does not provide a specific county or state average for this procedure to compare against. It is important to note that commercial insurance negotiated rates for this service range from $456 to $1,670 depending on the plan, with the highest negotiated amount being $1,670. In cases where a patient has a high deductible or no insurance, paying the cash price directly can sometimes be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, especially if the insurer's negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. Patients should always ask the hospital registration desk about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can significantly lower the final bill.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $106.81, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The commercial negotiated rate of $1,587 represents a significant markup compared to the Medicare amount, illustrating how commercial contracts often differ from federal reimbursement standards. If you are billed by an out-of-network provider at this facility, you may encounter balance billing, where the provider charges you the difference between their full rate and what your insurance pays. However, the No Surprises Act generally protects patients from these surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To avoid unexpected costs, patients should request a detailed, itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors