Head CT angiogram (CTA) cost in Des Moines, IA — inpatient
In Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA, 6 hospitals list a cash price for CT angiography (CTA) of the head as an inpatient: from $1,034.00 to $5,210.00, with a median of $2,496.98. The lowest listed price is at Dallas County Hospital — $1,462.98 less than the median here. Across Iowa, the median is $1,946.95 at 86 hospitals.
Cash prices at 6 facilities across 4 cities for code 70496, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Jan 28, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas County Hospital lowest Perry, IA · (515) 465-3547 CTA HEAD File of May 29, 2026 · source file | $1,034.00 | $1,590.00 | $248.32–$1,351.50 | 35% |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines, IA · (515) 282-2200 Ct Angiography, Head File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $2,122.00 | $2,122.00 | — | — |
| MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines, IA · (515) 247-4436 HC Cta Head W/O &/or W/Contrast File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $2,465.45 | $3,793.00 | $165.56–$3,793.00 | 35% |
| MercyOne Newton Medical Center Newton, IA · (641) 792-1273 HC Cta Head W/O &/or W/Contrast File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $2,528.50 | $3,890.00 | $166.03–$3,890.00 | 35% |
| UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medical Des Moines, IA · (515) 343-1000 HC CT ANGIOGRAPHY HEAD W WO CONTRAST+1 more line at this price File of Jan 28, 2026 · source file | $3,234.49 | $4,043.11 | $1,750.67 | 20% |
| MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center West Des Moines, IA HC Cta Head W/O &/or W/Contrast File of Mar 31, 2026 · source file | $5,210.00 | $5,210.00 | $165.56–$5,210.00 | — |
Inpatient: lowest $1,034.00, median $2,496.98, highest $5,210.00 — a 5.0× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 8 facilities here, median $2,516.25 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 3 of 5 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
A head CTA uses contrast dye and fast CT scanning to show the blood vessels of the brain. It is used in suspected stroke, for aneurysms and for sudden severe headache.
What the price covers
The hospital price usually covers the scan and any contrast dye. The radiologist's reading is often billed separately.