CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: St Luke Hospital & Living Center
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $1,027
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.73x 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 $179.2 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 573% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 473%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Va Ccn | $1,027 | 573% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,027 | 573% |
| Bluestem Pace | $1,027 | 573% |
| Kansas Department Of Health And Environment | $1,027 | 573% |
| Humana | $1,027 | 573% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,027 | 573% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,037 | 579% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470 (CT scan, head with and without contrast), St Luke Hospital & Living Center in Marion, KS, has a negotiated rate of $1,027 across seven payers, including UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. This negotiated amount is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $179.20, reflecting the typical administrative markup inherent in commercial contracts. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, the data does not provide specific cash or self-pay rates; however, patients with high-deductible plans should verify if paying out-of-pocket directly could result in lower costs than their insurance negotiated rate, as commercial contracts often exceed cash prices. It is also important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still review their specific plan details to ensure they are not subject to unexpected ancillary charges.
To minimize potential medical debt, consumers should request a full itemized bill before making any payments, as summary invoices often obscure individual line items that may include unbundled codes or services not rendered. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, disputing charges in writing via certified mail to the billing supervisor is more effective than verbal disputes. Additionally, patients should proactively ask about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% if paid upfront, bypassing the costly insurance claims cycle. Given that the facility is located in Marion, KS (ZIP 66861), patients should also consider comparing these rates against local state or county averages to determine if the facility's pricing