CT scan, head (no contrast)
Facility: Liberty Hospital
Billing Code: 70450 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70450
- Insurance Median: $169
- Cash Discount Price: $648
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.58x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $42 - $1,816 | 39% |
| Aetna | $98 - $1,503 | 92% |
| Cigna | $98 | 92% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $98 - $169 | 92% |
| Medicare (plans) | $99 - $107 | 93% |
| Humana | $100 | 94% |
| Healthy Blue | $105 | 98% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $124 | 116% |
| Home State Health | $143 | 134% |
| Fox Everett | $1,378 | 1290% |
| Phcs | $1,722 | 1612% |
| Multiplan | $1,906 | 1784% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
Liberty Hospital, located at 2525 Glenn Hendren Dr in Liberty, Missouri, reports a cash median price of $648 for a CT scan of the head (no contrast). This facility is a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital with a state rating of 2. The data indicates that the cash rate is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $2,296 and lower than the median negotiated rate of $169 paid by insurers. While the provided dataset does not include specific state or county average figures for comparison, the cash price represents a distinct alternative to the standard insurance billing process.
For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash rate of $648 upfront may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to the median negotiated rate of $169, as insurance coverage often requires meeting a deductible threshold before reimbursement begins. To potentially reduce costs further, patients should inquire directly with the hospital about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can offer additional reductions for upfront payments. It is important to note that if a patient chooses to use insurance, they should request an itemized billing audit to ensure no errors or unbundled charges exist, and they should be aware that federal protections under the No Surprises Act may prevent balance billing for out-of-network services at this in-network facility.