MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Republic County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,656
- Cash Discount Price: $1,350
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.79x 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 679% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 579%). 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 | $1,530 | 628% |
| Aetna | $1,620 | 665% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $1,620 | 665% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,656 | 679% |
| Cigna | $1,710 | 701% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $1,710 | 701% |
| First Health-All Plans | $1,710 | 701% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain without contrast at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS, the facility's cash price of $1,350 is lower than the median negotiated rate of $1,656 paid by insurance carriers like Aetna and UnitedHealthcare. This price transparency report highlights that commercial insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs for patients due to administrative fees and contractual ceilings, whereas paying cash directly can sometimes be more economical, especially for those 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 using insurance to cover a service where the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price may lead to higher final bills if the deductible has not yet been met.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is important to compare rates against the objective baseline of Medicare, which sets the true cost of care rather than the inflated hospital chargemaster. The Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $243.77, and the facility's cash rate of $1,350 represents a markup of 6.8 times the Medicare amount, which is significantly higher than the typical fair pricing range of 120% to 150% of Medicare. To further reduce costs, patients should inquire about prompt-pay discounts, which can offer a fee reduction of 20% to 50% for upfront payment, effectively bypassing the administrative overhead associated with insurance claims processing. Additionally, since balance billing is prohibited for out-of-network services at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act, patients can confidently rely on the negotiated rates listed here without fear of unexpected secondary charges