CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Republic County Hospital
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $1,242
- Cash Discount Price: $1,013
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.93x 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 693% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 593%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers-All Plans | $1,148 | 641% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $1,215 | 678% |
| Aetna | $1,215 | 678% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,242 | 693% |
| First Health-All Plans | $1,282 | 715% |
| Cigna | $1,282 | 715% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $1,282 | 715% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS, the facility's negotiated rates for major payers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna are $1,242, which matches the median paid amount. This rate is significantly higher than the facility's cash price of $1,013, illustrating that paying out-of-pocket can sometimes be more cost-effective for patients with high-deductible plans. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as insurance coverage often results in higher out-of-pocket costs than direct cash payment. Additionally, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before check-in, as these upfront fee reductions can lower the total bill by bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.
The facility's pricing is evaluated against the Medicare benchmark, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for healthcare costs. In this case, the Medicare amount for this procedure is $179.20, meaning the negotiated rates represent a substantial markup compared to the federal government's cost basis. It is important to note that while the data shows a specific comparison metric of 6.9, this figure does not represent a standard percentage difference between the facility's rates and state or county averages, as no such comparative data is available in the provided information. Consumers should avoid using the hospital's full chargemaster list as a benchmark for savings, as these inflated list prices do not reflect actual negotiated or cash rates. To ensure transparency, patients are encouraged to request an itemized billing audit if they receive a summary bill, as this process can identify errors, unb