MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Cloud County Health Center
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $4,056
- Cash Discount Price: $2,989
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 16.64x 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 1664% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1564%). 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 | $3,843 - $3,971 | 1576% |
| Pponext-All Plans | $4,056 | 1664% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $4,056 | 1664% |
| Mpi-All Plans | $4,056 | 1664% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, KS, the facility's cash median price is $2,989, which is lower than the state average of $4,270. While commercial insurance plans like Aetna, Pponext-All Plans, and others have negotiated rates averaging $4,056, patients with high-deductible plans might find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective if their insurance allowed amount exceeds this figure. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should always verify their specific plan's deductible status before relying on insurance coverage, as some in-network rates can be significantly higher than the cash price due to administrative costs and contract dynamics.
Patients should be aware that the $4,056 median paid amount by insurers represents a negotiated rate, not the full chargemaster list price, and comparing this to the Medicare benchmark of $243.77 reveals a substantial markup typical of commercial billing. To avoid unexpected costs, consumers are encouraged to request a prompt-pay discount or self-pay rate from the hospital before scheduling, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. If a balance bill or itemized statement is received, patients should demand a full, line-by-line audit to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through formal written disputes rather than verbal agreements.