CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Smith County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $682
- Cash Discount Price: $725
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.81x 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 381% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 281%). 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 | $453 | 253% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $508 - $725 | 283% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $652 | 364% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $682 | 381% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $689 | 384% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $689 | 384% |
| Health Partners Of Ks Ppo-All Plans | $689 | 384% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70470, representing a CT scan of the head with and without contrast, Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, KS, lists a cash median price of $725.00, which matches the facility's gross charge. When compared to the national Medicare benchmark of $179.20, this service is priced at 3.8 times the federal rate. While Medicaid / KanCare members face a negotiated range of $508 to $725 across three plans, commercial payers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and Multiplan-All Plans have fixed negotiated rates of $453 and $652, respectively. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $725 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates for some commercial carriers exceed the cash amount, and the administrative overhead of claims processing can inflate the final bill.
Patients should proactively request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling to potentially lower the bill, as hospitals often offer fee reductions of 20% to 50% for upfront payment to bypass costly claims processing. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, it is crucial to verify that all ancillary services, such as specific lab tests or imaging components, are covered under the facility's network agreements to avoid unexpected charges. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, consumers are advised to demand a full itemized CPT-coded statement rather than accepting a summary bill, and to formally dispute any discrepancies