CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Kingman Healthcare Center
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $88
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.82x 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 $106.81 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $88 | 82% |
| Healthy Blue | $88 | 82% |
| Aetna | $316 | 296% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head without contrast at Kingman Healthcare Center in Kingman, KS, the median negotiated rate paid by insurance carriers is $88.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's median paid amount of $579.00. This facility, a Critical Access Hospital, operates under a voluntary non-profit structure and has three distinct payer plans, including Medicaid/KanCare and Healthy Blue, all of which utilize the $88.00 negotiated rate. While the Medicare benchmark for this service is $106.81, indicating that the commercial negotiated rate is roughly 82% of the Medicare amount, patients should be aware that cash prices are not listed in this report. In cases where a patient has a high deductible or no insurance, paying the cash price directly might be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rate often exceeds the actual cash price due to administrative overheads.
To minimize costs, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling the procedure, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. It is important to verify the specific allowed amount with the insurance carrier prior to the visit, as assuming that being in-network guarantees the lowest possible price can lead to unexpected charges if the facility's contract rate is higher than another in-network provider's rate. Additionally, if a balance bill arises from out-of-network ancillary services, patients should utilize the No Surprises Act protections to dispute the charge rather than paying immediately out of fear. Finally, requesting a detailed, itemized bill is essential to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not