CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $591
- Cash Discount Price: $1,156
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.53x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 553% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 453%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $381 | 357% |
| Humana | $381 - $581 | 357% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $381 | 357% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $381 - $2,074 | 357% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $381 | 357% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $456 - $480 | 427% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $591 | 553% |
| Aetna | $636 | 595% |
| Cigna | $636 | 595% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $867 | 812% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $867 | 812% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $902 | 844% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $1,040 | 974% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head without contrast at Amberwell Atchison Association, the cash price is $1,156.00, which matches the facility's cash median. While this cash rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, it is important to note that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures. For instance, the median negotiated rate across payers is $591.00, and the lowest allowed amount is $381.00. Patients with high-deductible plans or those who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum may find that paying the cash price directly is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount could still result in a higher out-of-pocket expense than the flat cash rate.
To minimize potential costs, patients should proactively ask the facility about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. Additionally, if you are using insurance, be aware that while the facility is in-network, specific services like emergency physicians or lab tests might be out-of-network, potentially triggering balance billing unless protected by the No Surprises Act. If you receive a bill, always request a full itemized statement rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that can be disputed to lower your total.