MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Smith County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $917
- Cash Discount Price: $975
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.76x 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 376% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 276%). 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 | $521 | 214% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $682 - $975 | 280% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $878 | 360% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $916 | 376% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $926 | 380% |
| Health Partners Of Ks Ppo-All Plans | $926 | 380% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $926 | 380% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain (no contrast) at Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, Kansas, the cash price is $975.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate for Medicaid and the cash median. This rate is 3.8 times higher than the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, indicating a significant markup above the federal cost baseline. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the data shows no county or state average provided for comparison. Patients should note that commercial insurance carriers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Multiplan-All Plans have negotiated rates ranging from $521 to $975, meaning the cash price is not always the lowest option, but it can be more affordable than the full negotiated rate if a patient has a high deductible or no active coverage.
To minimize costs, patients should verify their specific insurance plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as in-network rates vary significantly by payer. If you are paying out-of-pocket, ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, request a detailed itemized statement to review every CPT code and ensure no services were billed for that were not rendered or cancelled. Always dispute any balance billing or unexpected charges in writing to protect your rights under the No Surprises Act, rather than accepting summary bills or verbal assurances from customer service.