CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: St Luke Hospital & Living Center
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $890
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.33x 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 833% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 733%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $890 | 833% |
| Kansas Department Of Health And Environment | $890 | 833% |
| Bluestem Pace | $890 | 833% |
| Va Ccn | $890 | 833% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $890 | 833% |
| Humana | $890 | 833% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $899 | 842% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70450, representing a CT scan of the head without contrast, the facility's negotiated rate of $890 is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, reflecting a markup of 830% compared to the federal baseline. While this rate is consistent across all seven insurance payers listed, including UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield, it is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often exceed the true cost of care due to administrative overhead and contract structures. Patients should be aware that cash-pay options are not listed for this service, but inquiring about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling can sometimes result in substantial savings, as hospitals may offer reduced fees for upfront payment to bypass costly insurance billing cycles.
This procedure is performed at St Luke Hospital & Living Center in Marion, Kansas, a Critical Access Hospital owned by a government hospital district. Although the data does not provide specific cash or median paid amounts for comparison, the fixed negotiated rate of $890 applies uniformly to all in-network plans, meaning patients should verify their individual deductible status before relying on insurance to cover the cost. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, consumers are encouraged to request a detailed, itemized statement before finalizing payment to ensure no unbundled charges or services not rendered are included. If a balance bill arises from out-of-network ancillary services, patients should utilize the No Surprises Act to dispute the amount rather than paying immediately out of fear of credit damage.