MRI, brain (no contrast)
Facility: Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City
Billing Code: 70551 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 70551
- Insurance Median: $932
- Cash Discount Price: $567
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.82x 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 $243.77 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 382% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 282%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Health | $114 | 47% |
| Humana | $114 | 47% |
| Medicare (plans) | $114 | 47% |
| Aetna | $114 - $1,134 | 47% |
| Cigna | $114 | 47% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $114 - $650 | 47% |
| Kaiser | $114 | 47% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $543 | 223% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $932 | 382% |
| Wpaa | $992 | 407% |
| Christian Health Aid | $1,134 | 465% |
| Multiplan | $1,134 - $1,275 | 465% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $1,275 | 523% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this MRI of the brain without contrast at Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City, the cash price is $567, which is significantly lower than the facility's negotiated rates ranging from $114 to $1,275 depending on the insurance plan. While the facility's negotiated average is $932, the cash price offers a substantial discount for those without insurance or with high-deductible plans where the insurance allowed amount might exceed the cash rate. It is important to note that while the facility is in-network for most payers, some plans like Aetna and Multiplan show wide variations in their negotiated rates, highlighting that "in-network" does not guarantee a single price. Patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as the difference between the cash price and the insurance allowed amount can be substantial.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against Medicare, which sets a baseline of $243.77 for this procedure. The cash price of $567 represents a markup of 3.8 times the Medicare rate, which is consistent with commercial pricing structures where negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare. To minimize costs, patients should ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront. Additionally, if you receive a bill after using insurance, request a full itemized audit to ensure no errors, such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, have inflated your charges, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors.