CT scan, head (with contrast)
Facility: Liberty Hospital
Billing Code: 70460 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70460
- Insurance Median: $355
- Cash Discount Price: $611
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.98x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $56 - $1,715 | 31% |
| Aetna | $163 - $1,503 | 91% |
| Cigna | $163 | 91% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $163 - $303 | 91% |
| Medicare (plans) | $165 - $179 | 92% |
| Humana | $166 | 93% |
| Healthy Blue | $175 | 98% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $207 | 116% |
| Home State Health | $239 | 133% |
| Fox Everett | $1,295 - $1,301 | 723% |
| Phcs | $1,618 - $1,626 | 903% |
| Multiplan | $1,791 - $1,799 | 999% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a CT scan of the head with contrast at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri, the cash price of $611 is notably lower than the facility's gross charge of $2,163, which serves as the inflated list price often used to obscure true costs. While the hospital's negotiated rate for in-network payers averages $355, this amount is significantly higher than the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans or those who have met their out-of-pocket limits may find paying $611 upfront more economical than relying on insurance. The cash rate also compares favorably to the Medicare benchmark of $179.20, reflecting the standard administrative markup that commercial insurance contracts often impose over federal reimbursement rates.
Patients should be aware that Liberty Hospital, a voluntary non-profit acute care facility, offers a prompt-pay discount for upfront cash payments, which can further reduce the $611 cash rate if requested before check-in. It is critical to avoid accepting summary bills that only show broad category totals, as these frequently mask errors or unbundled charges; instead, consumers should demand a full itemized CPT-coded statement to verify that no services were billed that were never rendered. Additionally, while the facility has a rating of 2 out of 5 stars, the pricing structure remains transparent when comparing the actual negotiated rate of $355 against the national average, ensuring that patients understand the true cost of care rather than being misled by the initial gross charge.