MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Stanton County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,896
- Cash Discount Price: $1,995
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.78x 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 778% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 678%). 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 | $525 - $1,896 | 215% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $1,955 | 802% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $1,995 | 818% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain (no contrast) at Stanton County Hospital in Johnson, KS, the facility's cash price of $1,995 is significantly higher than the state average, which sits at $1,926. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the negotiated rate for in-network payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield is $1,896, which remains above the cash price. This pricing structure highlights a common billing dynamic where commercial insurance contracts often exceed cash-pay rates due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics; however, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, provided they have not yet met their deductible.
To minimize costs, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% when paid upfront, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims. It is also important to verify that the facility is truly in-network for your specific plan, as some in-network hospitals charge substantially more than others, and to avoid balance billing by ensuring all ancillary services are covered under the No Surprises Act. Finally, if you receive a bill, request a full itemized statement to review every line item against the Medicare benchmark of $243.77 for this procedure, as comparing your charges to the federal baseline rather than the hospital's gross chargemaster will reveal the true markup and help identify any potential errors or unbundled codes.