Virginia Mason Medical Center
SeattleKing CountyAcute Care Hospitals
Head blood vessel CT scan (CTA)
Quality: 5 of 5 (CMS overall rating)Earliest available date: call (206) 223-6600
What you may pay
- With insurance from an employer or private plan
- $8.66 – $2,039
- Paying yourself (cash price)
- $1,300 Lower than typical
Next step: ask the hospital for a Good Faith Estimate for this procedure (phone number above).
Bills to expect
A procedure usually brings several bills, each from whoever did that part of your care. Here is what to expect, with what Traditional Medicare allows for each doctor’s part in this area (King County) and an estimate for private plans.
| Bill | Who sends it | How likely | Status | Traditional Medicare allows | Private plans (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital's fee | The hospital | Expected | Published by the hospital: the prices above | — | — |
| Radiologist | The radiology group | Expected | Billed separately; amount estimated | $87 | $103 to $156 |
| Ordering doctor's visit | Your doctor | Possible | Billed separately; not priced | — | — |
What you’d pay for these bills
Enter your plan’s rate for the hospital’s bill to see your share.
Who owes what, and when you might owe more
- The insurance adjustment Written off
An in-network provider agrees to accept your plan's allowed amount. The difference between its charge and that amount is written off: you don't owe it, and it shouldn't appear on your bill.
- Deductible You pay
What you pay each year before your plan starts sharing costs. It is applied to bills in the order your plan processes them, so the first bill can take all of it.
- Copay You pay
A fixed amount for a kind of care, such as a hospital stay or a surgeon's visit. Your plan's summary of benefits says whether it applies before or after the deductible, and whether a stay's copay is per day.
- Coinsurance You pay
Your percentage of the allowed amount after the deductible, such as 20%.
- Out-of-pocket maximum Your plan pays
Once your deductible, copays and coinsurance for the year reach it, your plan pays 100% of covered in-network care for the rest of the plan year.
- Each provider bills separately You pay
The hospital, surgeon, anesthesia group, radiologist and pathologist each send their own claim and their own bill. All of them count toward the same deductible and yearly maximum.
- Out of network and surprise bills It depends
A provider outside your plan's network can bill you the difference between its charge and what your plan pays (a balance bill). It can't for emergency care, or when anesthesia, radiology, pathology, an assistant surgeon or a hospital doctor treats you at an in-network hospital: under federal law (the No Surprises Act) and, for Washington-regulated plans and self-funded plans that opt in, RCW 48.49, those groups cannot balance bill you. Your deductible and coinsurance still apply, at in-network amounts.
- Not covered, or no prior authorization It depends
If your plan decides a service isn't covered, or it needed prior authorization that wasn't approved, the plan pays nothing for it and the provider may bill you. Ask the provider to get prior authorization before your care. If an in-network provider didn't get it, the provider's contract may stop it billing you: ask your plan before you pay.
- A second insurance It depends
If you have a second plan, the first plan pays first and the second may then pay some or all of your share. These estimates use one plan only.
- Wait for the Explanation of Benefits You pay
After each claim your insurer sends an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) with the allowed amount, what it paid and what you may owe. It is not a bill. Pay a provider's bill only when it matches the EOB's “you may owe” amount, and ask the provider or insurer about any difference.
- Help from the hospital It depends
Washington hospitals must give free or discounted care based on income, including deductibles and coinsurance for insured patients: free up to 200% or 300% of the federal poverty level depending on the hospital, with discounts above that (RCW 70.170). You can apply after you get a bill. It covers the hospital's bill; doctor groups that bill separately have their own policies.
- If you pay yourself instead You pay
You can choose not to use your insurance and pay the cash price; then nothing counts toward your deductible. Ask each provider for a Good Faith Estimate. If a bill is $400 or more above it, you can dispute it within 120 days.
Get it confirmed before your care
The hospital, each doctor’s group and your insurer can each confirm their part in writing. Here is a request for each one, ready to send from your own email, and what to say if you’d rather call. Nothing you do here is saved.
Coming: CareNavIQ will be able to send these for you, follow up, and tell you when everything is confirmed, with your permission.
Virginia Mason Medical Center
Request to send
Subject: Estimate request: head blood vessel ct scan (cta) at Virginia Mason Medical Center Hello, I am planning a head blood vessel ct scan (cta) (billing code CPT 70496) at Virginia Mason Medical Center. Under Washington law (RCW 70.01.030), I am asking for a written estimate of the hospital's charges, with the billing codes you plan to use. Name: [YOUR NAME] Date of birth: [DATE OF BIRTH] Insurance: [PLAN NAME], member ID [MEMBER ID] Planned date: [DATE, IF KNOWN] Thank you.
If you call. Call (206) 223-6600 and ask for the price estimate or patient financial services line. Say: "I'd like a written estimate for my head blood vessel ct scan (cta)."
56 published prices, grouped by who each price applies to.
Cash price 2 prices
| Price | Part of the bill | Hospital’s description | How it’s set | Setting | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,300 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | — | Outpatient | — |
| $1,300 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | — | Inpatient | — |
List price (before discounts) 2 prices
| Price | Part of the bill | Hospital’s description | How it’s set | Setting | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,549 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | — | Outpatient | — |
| $2,549 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | — | Inpatient | — |
Commercial insurance 29 prices
| Payer | Plan | Price | Part of the bill | Hospital’s description | How it’s set | Setting | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | Commercial | $1,606 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Outpatient | — |
| Aetna | Commercial | $1,775 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Cigna | Commercial | $578 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Cigna | Commercial | $1,070 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Cigna | Commercial | $1,882 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Outpatient | — |
| Cigna | Local Plus | $657 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Cigna | Local Plus | $1,882 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Outpatient | — |
| Coventry - First Health | Commercial | $1,786 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Coventry - First Health | Commercial | $2,039 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Inpatient | — |
| Coventry - First Health | Commercial | $2,039 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Outpatient | — |
| First Choice | Commercial | $8.66 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| First Choice | Commercial | $1,633 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Outpatient | — |
| First Choice | Commercial | $1,633 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Inpatient | — |
| Kaiser Health Plan | Commercial | $534 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Kaiser Health Plan | Commercial | $1,004 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Kaiser Health Plan | Commercial | $1,537 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Outpatient | — |
| Premera | Commercial | $625 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Premera | Commercial | $636 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Premera | Commercial | $1,529 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Outpatient | — |
| Regence | Commercial | $572 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Regence | Commercial | $713 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Regence | Commercial | $1,784 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Inpatient | — |
| Regence | Commercial | $1,784 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Outpatient | — |
| Regence | Uniform Medical Plan | $473 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Regence | Uniform Medical Plan | $537 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Regence | Uniform Medical Plan | $1,784 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Outpatient | — |
| Regence | Uniform Medical Plan | $1,784 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | percent of total billed charges | Inpatient | — |
| United Healthcare | Commercial | $324 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| United Healthcare | Commercial | $656 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
Medicare Advantage 23 prices
| Payer | Plan | Price | Part of the bill | Hospital’s description | How it’s set | Setting | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | Medicare Advantage | $78.19 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Aetna | Medicare Advantage | $104 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Aetna | Medicare Advantage HMO | $204 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Aetna | Medicare Advantage HMO | $1,429 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Aetna | Medicare Advantage PPO | $22.80 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Aetna | Medicare Advantage PPO | $200 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Confluence Health | Medicare Advantage | $424 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Humana | ChoiceCare Medicare Advantage | $321 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Humana | Medicare Advantage | $194 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Humana | Medicare Advantage | $321 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Kaiser Foundation | HP Medicare | $194 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Kaiser Foundation | HP Medicare | $321 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Multiplan | Medicare Advantage | $136 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Multiplan | Medicare Advantage | $333 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Optum Care Network | Medicare Advantage | $194 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Optum Care Network | Medicare Advantage | $321 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Premera | Medicare Advantage HMO/PPO | $194 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Premera | Medicare Advantage HMO/PPO | $333 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Regence | Medicare Advantage | $165 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| Regence | Medicare Advantage | $350 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| Signal Health | Medicare Advantage | $333 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
| United Healthcare | Medicare Advantage | $194 | Hospital’s fee | Ct angiography head | case rate | Outpatient | — |
| United Healthcare | Medicare Advantage | $321 | Hospital’s fee | CT ANGIOGRAPHY, HEAD | fee schedule | Outpatient | — |
Doctors here who do this procedure
14 doctors affiliated with Virginia Mason Medical Center billed Traditional Medicare for Head blood vessel CT scan (CTA) in 2024, most Medicare services first. See all doctors and practices, including those with no hospital affiliation.
| Doctor or practice | Practice | Medicare quality score | Times billed to Traditional Medicare (2024) | Traditional Medicare amount for their own service (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas Brown, MD | Smi Imaging LLC | 79 of 100 | 183 | $78.69 |
| Tai Luong, MD | Olympic Medical Imaging Consultants, PLLC | 79 of 100 | 90 | $79.65 |
| Thomas Eggert, MD | Virginia Mason Medical Center | 90 | $85.92 | |
| Robert Deconde, MD | Virginia Mason Medical Center | 74 | $86.19 | |
| Christian Erichsen, MD | Olympic Medical Imaging Consultants, PLLC | 79 of 100 | 64 | $78.89 |
| Patricia Burkhart, MD | Olympic Medical Imaging Consultants, PLLC | 79 of 100 | 60 | $79.61 |
| Mitsutomi Ishiyama, MD | Virginia Mason Medical Center | 58 | $84.70 | |
| Joseph Stengel, DO | Grays Harbor Community Hospital | 85 of 100 | 54 | $80.47 |
| Christopher Goiney, MD | Virginia Mason Medical Center | 41 | $86.43 | |
| Alexi Phinney, MD | Virginia Mason Medical Center | 35 | $84.33 | |
| Marc Lacrampe, MD | Virginia Mason Medical Center | 35 | $84.77 | |
| Robert Pallow, MD | Olympic Medical Imaging Consultants, PLLC | 79 of 100 | 34 | $77.16 |
| Hingkiu Chan, MD | Olympic Medical Imaging Consultants, PLLC | 79 of 100 | 14 | $80.37 |
| Victor Leen, MD | Olympic Medical Imaging Consultants, PLLC | 79 of 100 | 13 | $80.40 |
Reading the doctor list
- A higher price doesn’t mean better care. The quality score and the price come from different CMS files and are shown separately on purpose.
- The amount is what Traditional Medicare (original Medicare) approved for the doctor’s or lab’s own service: Medicare’s payment plus the patient’s share. It is not what commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage pays, and the hospital or surgery center bills separately (surgery centers aren’t in this list).
- The Medicare quality score is CMS’s MIPS final score (0 to 100), based mostly on the doctor’s Medicare patients. About half of doctors aren’t scored, so Not rated says nothing bad about a doctor. A group’s score covers everyone in the group.
- CMS doesn’t publish counts under 11 patients, so doctors who rarely bill Medicare for this aren’t listed, and No price published means CMS has no amount for that setting.
- Medicare’s file doesn’t say where a doctor did the procedure, only that they billed it in Washington. Affiliations are the hospitals each doctor lists with Medicare.
See a price that looks wrong? Tell us about it.