CMS Price Transparency Data

MRI, brain (no contrast)

Facility: Brooks-Tlc Hospital System, Inc

Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$235

about 1.0× the $244 Medicare rate · typically $198–$311

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$198

Below the fair price — a good deal

about $37 under the fair price · 0.8× Medicare

Medicare pays $244 Fair price $235 This hospital $198 Cash price $1,599 Hospital's list price $1,599

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other NY hospitals

Highest price of the 9 NY hospitals we have prices for — worth calling around.

Cheapest $73 Priciest $198

Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 NY hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.

⚠ The cash price looks unusually high next to the insurance price — it may be the full list price, not a real cash discount. Call to confirm the self-pay rate.

A fair price for a MRI, brain (no contrast) is about $235 (about 1.0× the $244 Medicare rate). Brooks-Tlc Hospital System, Inc charges insurers about $198, or about $1,599 in cash — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Dunkirk, NY.

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

2 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Humana UnitedHealthcareAetnaCignaKaiser Permanente

Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.

Insurance company	Price range	vs. Medicare
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$116 - $179	48%
Humanamajor	$298	122%
EmblemHealth	$387	159%
Independent Health	$156 - $399	64%
WellCare	$307	126%
+ 2 smaller / regional plans	$136 - $398

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

Tell the billing desk you want to be billed as self-pay — not through insurance — before your visit.
Ask for the cash / prompt-pay discount in writing, with the exact price (about 1,599), before you agree to anything.
Get it in writing that they won’t also bill your insurance, so the cash price is what you owe.
Check the CPT code on your bill matches exactly: 70551.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm Brooks-Tlc Hospital System, Inc is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for CPT code 70551.
Confirm the doctor or provider is in-network too — not just the hospital building.
Check your Explanation of Benefits against the hospital’s final itemized bill.

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost

A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.

How you’d pay

Deductible left to meet ($)

Your coinsurance (%)

Enter your details and press estimate to compare.

Other Procedures at Brooks-Tlc Hospital System, Inc

Compare: MRI, brain (no contrast) at other NY hospitals

Insurance negotiated median for the same procedure, sorted lowest first.