CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Hodgeman County Health Center
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $1,309
- Cash Discount Price: $1,487
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.30x 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 730% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 630%). 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 | $435 - $458 | 243% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $1,190 | 664% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,190 - $1,859 | 664% |
| Humana | $1,190 | 664% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,190 - $1,766 | 664% |
| Aetna | $1,487 | 830% |
| First Health - All Plans | $1,673 | 934% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $1,766 | 985% |
| Wppa (Provdrscare) - All Plans | $1,766 | 985% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CT scan of the head (with and without contrast) at Hodgeman County Health Center in Jetmore, Kansas, the facility's cash median price is $1,487, which is lower than the gross charge of $1,859. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, patients should be aware that insurance negotiated rates vary significantly; for instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans pay between $435 and $458, whereas Medicaid/KanCare plans range from $1,190 to $1,859. Although the cash price is generally lower than the median negotiated rate of $1,309, it is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price upfront can sometimes result in lower out-of-pocket costs if the insurance allowed amount exceeds the cash rate. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
When evaluating the cost against federal standards, the Medicare amount for this procedure is $179.20, and the facility's cash rate of $1,487 represents a 7.3% markup relative to this benchmark. This comparison highlights that commercial rates often include significant administrative overhead and contract dynamics that are not reflected in the government's fixed reimbursement rates. Because over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should always request a detailed, itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, which may hide unbundled codes or services not rendered. If a patient receives a surprise