CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: Lincoln County Hospital
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $480
- Cash Discount Price: $1,193
- 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 this CT scan of the head with contrast at Lincoln County Hospital in Lincoln, KS, the facility's cash median price is $1,193.00, which is lower than the negotiated rate of $480.00 paid by Blue Cross Blue Shield. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find paying the cash price directly more affordable than relying on insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount often exceeds the cash rate. To secure the lowest possible cost, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $179.20, which serves as a critical baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The gross chargemaster price listed is $1,325.00, but the negotiated rate of $480.00 represents a significant reduction from the full list price. Although specific county or state average data was not provided in this report, it is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead that can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40%. Consumers should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act, and if a surprise bill does arrive, patients should dispute it with their insurer rather than paying immediately.