MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Scott County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,200
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.92x 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 492% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 392%). 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 | $131 - $1,752 | 54% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $553 | 227% |
| Humana | $774 | 318% |
| Wppa | $1,106 - $1,200 | 454% |
| Aetna | $1,660 | 681% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this MRI of the brain (no contrast) at Scott County Hospital in Scott City, KS, the facility's negotiated rates range from $553 to $1,752 depending on your specific insurance plan, with a median negotiated amount of $1,200. This price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, reflecting the standard administrative markup inherent in commercial insurance contracts. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that cash-pay options are not listed in this report. However, for individuals with high-deductible plans, paying cash directly could sometimes be more cost-effective if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the facility's self-pay price, which is often available upon request.
It is important to distinguish between the insurance negotiated rate and the final amount you owe. If you have out-of-network coverage or if ancillary services like emergency physicians or lab tests are billed separately, you may face balance billing for the difference between the provider's full chargemaster rate and what your insurer allows. Under the No Surprises Act, balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, so you should dispute any surprise bills immediately rather than paying them out of fear of credit damage. Additionally, before finalizing payment, you should request a full itemized billing audit to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain inaccuracies that can be corrected through a formal written dispute sent to the billing supervisor.