CT scan, head (with and without contrast)
Facility: Children'S Mercy South
Billing Code: 70470 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70470
- Insurance Median: $132
- Cash Discount Price: $1,128
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.74x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $52 - $3,037 | 29% |
| Healthy Blue | $56 - $456 | 31% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $56 - $118 | 31% |
| Cigna | $58 - $3,141 | 32% |
| Home State Health | $63 - $401 | 35% |
| Healthlink | $77 - $3,978 | 43% |
| Wppa Providrs Care | $77 - $2,938 | 43% |
| Health Midwest Comprehensive Care | $82 - $2,943 | 46% |
| American Healthcare Alliance | $85 - $3,842 | 47% |
| Quiktrip | $90 - $2,943 | 50% |
| Medica | $104 - $2,635 | 58% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $112 - $3,345 | 63% |
| Multiplan | $112 - $3,435 | 63% |
| Wellfit/Centrus | $113 - $2,938 | 63% |
| Aetna | $115 - $3,074 | 64% |
| Centivo | $117 - $2,938 | 65% |
| Humana | $117 - $3,006 | 65% |
| Orscheln | $118 - $2,938 | 66% |
| Nebraska Furniture Mart | $119 - $2,938 | 66% |
| Mercy Health | $131 - $3,390 | 73% |
| Coxhealth Network | $132 - $3,345 | 74% |
| Coventry Health Care Of Kansas | $145 - $3,345 | 81% |
| National Preferred Provider Network | $158 - $4,068 | 88% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For patients with high-deductible plans, this CT scan of the head (with and without contrast) at Children's Mercy South in Overland Park, KS, could be a more affordable option if paid directly, with a cash median of $1,128.00. This cash rate is significantly lower than the negotiated rates charged to insurance members, which range from $52 to $4,068 across 23 different payers. Because commercial insurance contracts often include administrative overhead and multi-layered pricing structures, the negotiated rates can exceed the cash price by a substantial margin. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the cash rate upfront may result in immediate savings compared to the insurance allowed amount, which varies widely by carrier.
While the facility is a voluntary non-profit, patients should be aware that balance billing can still occur if they receive care from out-of-network providers or ancillary services, even at an in-network hospital. Under the No Surprises Act, balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities is prohibited, but patients should still request a full itemized CPT-coded bill to identify any errors, double-billing, or unbundled charges before making a payment. Additionally, patients should ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final cost by 20% to 50% if the bill is settled in full within a short window, bypassing the costly claims processing cycle.