CT scan, sinuses
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital Inc
Billing Code: 70486 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70486
- Insurance Median: $100
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.94x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Va | $98 | 92% |
| Humana | $98 | 92% |
| Medicare (plans) | $98 - $100 | 92% |
| Vc Hope | $98 | 92% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $100 - $275 | 94% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $100 | 94% |
| Smarthealth | $138 | 129% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $167 | 156% |
| Aetna | $169 - $721 | 158% |
| Cigna | $236 | 221% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 70486 (CT scan, sinuses), the negotiated rates at Ascension Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital Inc in Wichita, KS, range from $98 to $275 depending on your specific insurance plan. While Medicare sets a benchmark of $106.81 for this service, commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna have negotiated rates that can reach up to $275, which is significantly higher than the Medicare baseline. It is important to note that cash-pay options or self-pay discounts are not listed in the current data, but patients with high-deductible plans should verify if paying out-of-pocket directly could be cheaper than their insurance's negotiated rate, as administrative fees often inflate commercial prices. Additionally, many facilities offer prompt-pay discounts for upfront billing, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50%, so it is advisable to ask the billing department about these incentives before scheduling.
When evaluating costs, it is crucial to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's full chargemaster list, as the latter often inflates the perceived savings. For this procedure, the median negotiated rate of $100.00 is slightly below the Medicare amount of $106.81, suggesting that for some commercial plans, the facility's contracted rate is already competitive with the federal standard. However, for other payers such as Aetna, the range extends well above the Medicare rate, highlighting the variability in commercial contracts. Patients should always request an itemized bill to ensure no errors exist, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies, and should never sign away their rights to dispute out