Head CT without and with contrast cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 14 hospitals publish a cash price for CT scan of the head without and with contrast: from $102.85 to $1,776.56, with a median of $180.88. The lowest price is at MedStar St. Mary's Hospital (Leonardtown). The highest price is 17.3× the lowest.
- The median here, $180.88, is 89% below the US median of $1,703.35.
- That is about the same as Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($179.20).
- Maryland has the lowest median of 51 states with at least 5 hospitals pricing this code.
- 2 of 14 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Why Maryland prices look low: Maryland is the only state where a commission (the HSCRC) sets hospital rates for every payer, so its hospitals publish prices far below the rest of the country. A separate physician fee may still apply.
Maryland law (Health-General §19-214.1) requires hospitals to give free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and to cut the bill by 75% up to 250% and 60% up to 300%. With medical debt above 25% of family income in a year, discounts reach up to 500%. Immigration status does not count. Ask the hospital for its financial assistance application. Other states' laws.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 70470. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Oct 29, 2026. See them on a map
Hospitals in Maryland, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| MedStar St. Mary's Hospital lowest Leonardtown · Lexington Park, MD CT HEAD WO W CONTRAST | $102.85 | $104.95 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Western Maryland Cumberland · Cumberland, MD-WV CT SCAN HEAD W & W/O CONTRAST | $107.40 | $179.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV BC-CT HEAD OR BRAIN WO W CONT | $119.71 | $122.15 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD CT HEAD WO W CONTRAST | $123.48 | $126.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV CT HEAD WO W CONTRAST | $148.46 | $151.49 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Greater Baltimore Medical Center Towson · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC CT Head - Ne/E | $164.37 | $167.72 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Frederick Health Hospital Frederick · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV CT HEAD WWO CONT | $180.45 | $184.13 | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| TidalHealth Peninsula Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC C/T-HEAD SCAN W/WO CONTRAST | $181.30 | $185.00 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD BC-CT HEAD OR BRAIN WO W CONT | $187.16 | $190.98 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Harbor Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD CT HEAD WO W CONTRAST | $202.69 | $206.83 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Computed tomography, head or brain; without contrast material, followed by contrast material(s) and further sections | $217.45 | $217.45 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD BC-CT HEAD OR BRAIN WO W CONT | $233.97 | $238.74 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC CT SCAN HEAD COMBO | $246.24 | $251.27 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD CT,HEAD/BRAIN,W/WO CONTRAST GLR | $1,776.56 | $1,776.56 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 6 | $123.48 | $194.92 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3 | $119.71 | $148.46 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $107.40 | $107.40 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 1 | $102.85 | $102.85 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $217.45 | $217.45 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $1,776.56 | $1,776.56 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $181.30 | $181.30 |
What head CT without and with contrast is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Head CT without and with contrast explained.
CT scan of the head without and with contrast in other states
- Alabama$1,671.90
- Alaska$2,650.83
- Arizona$1,387.32
- Arkansas$961.72
- California$3,090.75
- Colorado$2,057.79
- Connecticut$1,374.00
- Delaware$2,830.45
- District of Columbia$2,461.50, 3 hospitals
- Florida$4,407.60
- Georgia$1,842.00
- Hawaii$1,812.10
- Idaho$1,300.88
- Illinois$2,421.09
- Indiana$1,042.32
- Iowa$1,802.25
- Kansas$1,240.50
- Kentucky$1,622.04
- Louisiana$914.20
- Maine$1,488.50
- Massachusetts$1,492.00
- Michigan$1,565.00
- Minnesota$1,589.59
- Mississippi$1,052.05
- Missouri$1,766.00
- Montana$1,805.54
- Nebraska$2,506.40
- Nevada$2,505.00
- New Hampshire$1,949.70
- New Jersey$611.15
- New Mexico$2,008.53
- New York$1,062.60
- North Carolina$1,988.50
- North Dakota$1,522.93
- Ohio$1,191.05
- Oklahoma$1,280.98
- Oregon$1,571.70
- Pennsylvania$1,671.60
- Puerto Rico$462.50
- Rhode Island$1,960.20
- South Carolina$1,950.80
- South Dakota$2,804.00
- Tennessee$1,088.22
- Texas$2,050.22
- Utah$4,090.92
- Vermont$2,771.00
- Virginia$1,755.50
- Washington$1,592.66
- West Virginia$1,167.69
- Wisconsin$1,838.85
- Wyoming$1,893.54
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.