CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Lincoln County Hospital
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $480
- Cash Discount Price: $1,240
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.68x 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 268% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 168%). 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 | $480 | 268% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head at Lincoln County Hospital, the cash median price is $1,240, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,378. While the facility is in-network for Blue Cross Blue Shield, the negotiated rate for this service is $480, significantly lower than the cash price. This price difference highlights a common billing dynamic where commercial insurance contracts often cap charges at a level below what a patient would pay out-of-pocket. If you have a high-deductible plan that has not yet met your deductible, paying the cash price of $1,240 upfront could result in a lower total cost than your insurance paying the $480 negotiated rate and then billing you the remaining balance after your deductible is met.
To minimize costs, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within 30 days. It is also important to request an itemized bill before paying to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes. Regarding benchmarking, the Medicare amount for this procedure is $179.20, and the facility's cash rate is 2.7 times higher than this federal baseline. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Lincoln, KS, with government-local ownership, patients should verify their specific plan details and confirm whether any self-pay or prompt-pay discounts are available before scheduling their appointment.