MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Lincoln County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $553
- Cash Discount Price: $954
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.27x 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 227% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 127%). 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 | $553 | 227% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Lincoln County Hospital in Lincoln, KS, the cash median price is $954.00, which is notably lower than the facility's negotiated rate of $553.00 paid by Blue Cross Blue Shield. This specific service is priced at 2.3 times the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, reflecting the standard markup structure for commercial contracts. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more advantageous if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash amount, as paying out-of-pocket can sometimes result in lower total costs. It is important to verify this with the hospital directly, as self-pay or prompt-pay discounts may further reduce the final amount owed.
To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a full itemized bill before paying, as summary invoices often obscure individual code costs and potential errors. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes such as unbundled charges or services not rendered, a line-by-line review is the most effective way to avoid unnecessary debt. If you choose to use insurance, remember that the negotiated rate of $553.00 includes administrative overhead and does not represent the true cost of care; comparing this to the Medicare benchmark reveals the actual markup applied. Finally, if you are out-of-network, be aware that balance billing could occur, though the No Surprises Act protects you from surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities.