CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $1,473
- Cash Discount Price: $1,395
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.22x 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 822% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 722%). 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 | $179 - $1,550 | 100% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $458 | 256% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $1,318 | 735% |
| First Health-All Plans | $1,395 | 778% |
| Aetna | $1,395 | 778% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $1,395 | 778% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $1,472 | 821% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $1,472 | 821% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $1,472 | 821% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $1,534 | 856% |
| Cigna | $1,534 | 856% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CT scan of the head with contrast (CPT 70460) at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, KS, the cash price is $1,395.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,550.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, the cash rate aligns closely with the median negotiated rate of $1,473.00 and the median paid amount of $1,473.00. This suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying cash upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the cash price is already competitive with the rates commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna have negotiated.
When comparing this service to broader benchmarks, the cash price of $1,395.00 is notably higher than the Medicare amount of $179.20, reflecting the complexity of the procedure and facility costs. However, it is important to note that the facility's cash rate is well below the gross charges and the highest negotiated rates seen among payers like Triwest Well Mark All Plans ($1,318) and First Health-All Plans ($1,395). Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, they should still request a prompt-pay discount before scheduling to ensure the lowest possible out-of-pocket cost. Always verify your specific plan's deductible status and ask the billing department for a self-pay or prompt-pay discount prior to receiving care.