CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $1,789
- Cash Discount Price: $3,253
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.98x 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 998% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 898%). 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 | $484 | 270% |
| Tricare | $1,627 | 908% |
| Humana | $1,627 | 908% |
| Medicare (plans) | $1,643 | 917% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,789 | 998% |
| Coventry - All Other Plans | $2,928 | 1634% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas - All Plans | $3,091 | 1725% |
| Preferred Healthcare-All Plans | $3,091 | 1725% |
| Wppa/Providers Care-All Plans | $4,554 | 2541% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head at Memorial Hospital in Abilene, Kansas, the cash price is $3,253, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate. This cash price is significantly higher than the state average for this procedure, indicating that commercial insurance rates in this region are generally lower than what patients pay out-of-pocket. While the facility's negotiated rate of $1,789 is lower than the cash price, it is still above the Medicare benchmark of $179.20, reflecting the typical administrative markup inherent in commercial contracts. Patients with high-deductible plans should consider that paying the cash price of $3,253 upfront might be more cost-effective if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds this amount, though in this specific case, the cash price is the highest figure available.
To minimize costs, patients should proactively request a prompt-pay discount or self-pay rate before scheduling, as these can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. It is crucial to avoid accepting summary bills that obscure individual charges; instead, demand a full itemized statement to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, which are common sources of billing errors. Since this facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a government authority, patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount and ensure they do not inadvertently trigger balance billing by signing out-of-network waivers. Always confirm the exact "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" classification with the billing department prior to check-in to secure the most favorable rate available.