MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $1,362
- Cash Discount Price: $2,663
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.59x 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 559% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 459%). 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 | $525 - $553 | 215% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $879 | 361% |
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $879 | 361% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $879 | 361% |
| Humana | $879 - $970 | 361% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $879 - $4,778 | 361% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,362 | 559% |
| Cigna | $1,465 | 601% |
| Aetna | $1,465 | 601% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $1,997 | 819% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $1,997 | 819% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $2,077 | 852% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $2,397 | 983% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, brain (no contrast) procedure at Amberwell Atchison Association, the cash price is $2,663.00, which matches the facility's cash median. This rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, indicating a substantial markup typical of commercial billing structures. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Atchison, KS, the data provided does not include specific county or state average comparisons for this code type; therefore, no direct regional average comparison can be made based on the available information. Patients should note that while cash payment avoids insurance deductibles, the high cash price may exceed the negotiated rates paid by some insurance plans, particularly those with lower allowed amounts like Blue Cross Blue Shield, which range from $525 to $553.
Commercial negotiated rates vary widely among payers, with the lowest allowed amount being $525 and the highest reaching $4,778. The median negotiated rate across all payers is $1,362.00, which is still nearly double the Medicare amount. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price of $2,663.00 upfront might be more cost-effective than using insurance, especially if your deductible is high or if your specific plan's negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. To maximize savings, you should 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 within a short window. Additionally, if you are using insurance, ensure you request an itemized bill to verify that no balance billing occurs