MRI, brain (with and without contrast)
Facility: Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 70553 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70553
- Insurance Median: $1,371
- Cash Discount Price: $3,214
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.85x 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 $356.43 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 385% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 285%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $207 | 58% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $610 - $1,371 | 171% |
| Tricare | $1,320 | 370% |
| Va_Ccn | $1,371 | 385% |
| Medadv_Uhc | $1,371 | 385% |
| Humana | $1,371 | 385% |
| Aetna | $1,371 | 385% |
| Medicare (plans) | $1,371 | 385% |
| Medadv_Allwell | $1,371 | 385% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $2,160 | 606% |
| Wppa_Providrscare | $3,556 | 998% |
| United | $3,565 | 1000% |
| Hpk | $4,071 | 1142% |
| Coventry | $4,071 | 1142% |
| Cigna | $4,071 | 1142% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the brain with and without contrast at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kansas, the facility's cash median rate is $3,214.00, which is lower than the gross charge of $4,285.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract structures. For instance, several major payers including United, Coventry, and Cigna have negotiated rates of $4,071.00, while others like United and Wppa_Providrscare have rates as high as $3,565.00 and $3,556.00 respectively. This demonstrates that paying out-of-pocket can sometimes result in a lower total cost than using insurance, particularly for patients with high deductibles where the insurer's allowed amount might be higher than the cash price.
The facility's negotiated rate of $1,371.00 is significantly lower than the gross charge but remains higher than the cash median, illustrating the complex pricing dynamics between commercial payers and direct payment. Medicare serves as a critical benchmark for evaluating these rates, with the Medicare amount for this procedure set at $356.43. Commercial rates are often marked up relative to this baseline; for example, the highest negotiated rates observed are approximately 10 times the Medicare amount, whereas fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150% of the Medicare rate. To minimize costs, patients should request a prompt-pay discount or self-pay classification before scheduling, which can provide a fee reduction