MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Morris County Hospital
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $978
- Cash Discount Price: $1,505
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.01x 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 401% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 301%). 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 | $264 | 108% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $525 - $978 | 215% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $978 - $2,508 | 401% |
| Choice Care Mcr Adv-All Plans | $978 | 401% |
| Coventry Mcr | $978 | 401% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $978 | 401% |
| Cigna | $1,814 | 744% |
| Aetna | $2,247 | 922% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $2,257 | 926% |
| Coventry Comm-All Other Plans | $2,257 | 926% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Morris County Hospital in Council Grove, KS, the facility's cash median price of $1,505.00 is significantly lower than the average negotiated rates paid by major insurers like UnitedHealthcare ($978–$2,508) and Aetna ($2,247). While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that while the facility offers a cash median of $1,505.00, the actual cash median for this service in the broader region is $1,505.00, meaning the facility's rate aligns with the regional cash average rather than undercutting it.
Patients should be aware that commercial insurance contracts often result in higher out-of-pocket costs due to administrative overhead and network tiering, which can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40%. Although the facility's negotiated rate of $978.00 is lower than its gross charge of $2,508.00, this rate is still higher than the cash price, illustrating that in-network coverage does not always guarantee the lowest possible cost. To minimize expenses, patients are encouraged to contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. Additionally, if a balance bill arises from out-of-network ancillary services, patients should verify the legality of the