CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $1,170
- Cash Discount Price: $2,288
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.53x 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 $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 653% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 553%). 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 | $456 - $480 | 254% |
| Humana | $581 - $755 | 324% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $755 | 421% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $755 | 421% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $755 - $4,105 | 421% |
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $755 | 421% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,170 | 653% |
| Cigna | $1,258 | 702% |
| Aetna | $1,258 | 702% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $1,716 | 958% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $1,716 | 958% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $1,785 | 996% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $2,059 | 1149% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CT scan of the head with contrast at Amberwell Atchison Association, the cash price is $2,288, which matches the facility's median paid amount. While this cash rate is significantly higher than the state average for this procedure, it is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying cash upfront can sometimes be cheaper than relying on insurance. This is because commercial negotiated rates, which insurers pay, often exceed the cash price due to administrative costs and contract structures. In this specific case, the median negotiated rate across payers is $1,258, and the median negotiated rate is $1,170, meaning that for many insured patients, the insurance payment would be lower than the cash price. However, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status and allowed amount before scheduling, as paying the full cash price may not result in savings if their insurance covers a portion of the cost.
Patients should be aware that commercial rates are often marked up significantly compared to the federal Medicare benchmark, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for healthcare costs. For this procedure, the Medicare amount is $179.20, and the facility's cash rate is approximately 1,278% of that amount, reflecting the typical markup found in commercial pricing. To minimize potential costs, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% when paid in full upfront. Additionally, if a patient receives a large bill after insurance processing, they should request a detailed, itemized audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over