CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: Morris County Hospital
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $860
- Cash Discount Price: $1,322
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.80x 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 480% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 380%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Providrs Care (Wppa)(Nexus)-All Plans | $224 | 125% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $456 - $860 | 254% |
| Coventry Mcr | $860 | 480% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $860 - $2,204 | 480% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $860 | 480% |
| Choice Care Mcr Adv-All Plans | $860 | 480% |
| Cigna | $1,594 | 890% |
| Aetna | $1,975 | 1102% |
| Coventry Comm-All Other Plans | $1,984 | 1107% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $1,984 | 1107% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this CT scan of the head with contrast at Morris County Hospital in Council Grove, KS, the facility's cash price is $1,322, which is notably lower than the median negotiated rate of $860 paid by most insurance plans. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients should be aware that commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna have negotiated rates ranging from $860 to $1,984, often exceeding the cash price. Because insurance billing involves administrative overhead and claim processing, paying cash upfront can sometimes result in a lower out-of-pocket cost, particularly for those with high-deductible plans where the insurance allowed amount might still be higher than the cash rate.
To maximize savings, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as hospitals often offer a fee reduction of 20% to 50% for upfront payment to avoid administrative costs and bad debt. It is crucial to sign a waiver of insurance submission to ensure the cash discount applies, rather than allowing the hospital to submit a claim that would void the discount. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should demand a full itemized CPT-coded statement before paying, ensuring no services were double-billed or unbundled, and should never accept a summary bill as the final invoice.