CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Minneola District Hospital
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $532
- Cash Discount Price: $403
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.97x 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 297% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 197%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $56 - $700 | 31% |
| Humana | $56 - $469 | 31% |
| Va Community Care Program-All Plans | $56 - $469 | 31% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $143 - $700 | 80% |
| Providrs Care Network-All Plans | $143 - $595 | 80% |
| Aetna | $143 - $700 | 80% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $458 | 256% |
| Corporate Plan Management-All Plans | $595 | 332% |
| Triwest-All Plans | $630 | 352% |
| Preferred Health Care (Coventry)-All Other Plans | $630 | 352% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $665 | 371% |
| Phc (Coventry) Leased Network | $665 | 371% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head at Minneola District Hospital, the cash median price is $403.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $532.00 and the median paid by insurers at $630.00. This price transparency data highlights that paying out-of-pocket can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance, particularly for patients with high-deductible plans where the insurer's allowed amount exceeds the cash price. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Kansas with a government ownership structure, patients should verify their specific plan details, as some commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna have negotiated rates as high as $700, significantly higher than the cash rate.
To avoid unexpected costs, consumers should request a prompt-pay discount before scheduling, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront, bypassing the administrative overhead of insurance claims. If a patient receives a bill that includes charges from out-of-network services, such as specific lab tests or emergency physicians, they may be subject to balance billing unless protected by the No Surprises Act. It is crucial to demand a full itemized audit of the bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors like unbundled codes or services not rendered. Comparing the facility's rates to the Medicare benchmark of $179.20 reveals a markup, and patients should ensure they are comparing against this federal baseline rather than the inflated chargemaster list to understand the true cost of care.