CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Scott County Hospital
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $1,200
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.70x 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 670% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 570%). 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 | $101 - $1,527 | 56% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $480 | 268% |
| Humana | $675 | 377% |
| Wppa | $964 - $1,200 | 538% |
| Aetna | $1,446 | 807% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470, representing a CT scan of the head with and without contrast, Scott County Hospital's negotiated rates range from $480 to $1,527 depending on the insurance carrier. While the facility's median negotiated rate of $1,200 is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $179.20, indicating a substantial markup common in commercial contracts, the cash-pay median is not available in this dataset. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the full cash price upfront can sometimes be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rate often exceeds the cash price. Patients should proactively ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the total bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within 30 days, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.
The facility's pricing structure shows a wide variance among payers, with UnitedHealthcare offering the lowest range at $101 to $1,527 across three plans, while Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield have fixed negotiated rates of $1,446 and $480, respectively. Although specific county or state average data was not provided in the source information, the disparity between the Medicare rate and the highest negotiated rates highlights the importance of verifying your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling. To avoid unexpected costs, patients should request an itemized bill to review every CPT code and ensure no services were unbundled or double-charged, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors. If you receive