CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Cloud County Health Center
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $2,567
- Cash Discount Price: $1,892
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 24.03x 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 2403% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 2303%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $2,432 - $2,513 | 2277% |
| Mpi-All Plans | $2,567 | 2403% |
| Pponext-All Plans | $2,567 | 2403% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $2,567 | 2403% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head without contrast at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, KS, the facility's cash median rate is $1,892.00, which is lower than the commercial negotiated rates of $2,567.00 seen across four major payers including Aetna and Mpi-All Plans. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients with high-deductible plans might find paying the cash price directly more affordable if their insurance deductible has not yet been met. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and do not reflect the true cost of care, which is better understood by comparing against the Medicare benchmark of $106.81 for this procedure.
Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this service, the significant gap between the cash price and the negotiated rates highlights the potential for balance billing if a patient's insurance does not cover the full amount. Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, unexpected ancillary charges can still occur. To minimize costs, consumers should request a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before scheduling, as paying in full upfront can bypass the costly insurance claims cycle and reduce the final bill. Additionally, if a large bill is received, patients should demand a full itemized audit rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written dispute.