Cost of a Chest CT Scan Visit
in Louisiana
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
Louisiana's healthcare landscape reflects the state's unique geography, with provider concentration in New Orleans and Baton Rouge creating cost variations across parishes. Chest CT Scan visits in Louisiana show negotiated rates ranging from $48 to $288, with median costs around $171 based on transparency data from over 1,300 active providers. Patients across Louisiana can browse local Chest CT Scan specialists to compare costs and verify insurance coverage before scheduling.
Average
$169
Median
$171
Lowest
$48
Highest
$288
Providers
1,374
44% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does ct chest compare to related procedures in Louisiana?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI Brain MRI of the brain with and without contrast | 70553 | $92 | $548 | $766 | 1,172 |
| MRI Knee MRI of the knee without contrast | 73721 | $55 | $327 | $429 | 1,325 |
| MRI Lumbar Spine MRI of the lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $60 | $356 | $702 | 1,176 |
| CT Abdomen & Pelvis CT scan of abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $66 | $201 | $424 | 1,112 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 71260 — CT chest with contrast). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 71260 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 71260 (CT chest with contrast), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 71260 covers: the provider's professional fee for ct chest. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why Chest CT Scan Visit Costs Vary Across Louisiana
Louisiana's healthcare costs run approximately 1% above national averages, influenced by the state's mix of urban medical centers and rural parishes with limited imaging access. The concentration of major health systems in New Orleans and Baton Rouge creates pricing disparities compared to smaller community hospitals across the state.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
Metropolitan areas like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport house the majority of Louisiana's advanced imaging centers, while rural parishes often require patients to travel significant distances for Chest CT Scan services. This geographic concentration drives up costs in urban areas due to higher demand and real estate expenses. Rural facilities, when available, may offer lower base rates but have limited scheduling availability.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-owned outpatient imaging centers in Louisiana typically charge premium rates due to higher overhead costs and facility fees compared to independent radiology practices. Major health systems like Ochsner Health and LCMC Health operate numerous imaging centers across the state with standardized pricing that reflects their market position. Independent imaging centers often provide more competitive rates, especially for cash-paying patients.
Insurance Market Competition in Louisiana
BCBS Louisiana holds significant market share across the state, with UHC and Aetna providing additional coverage options primarily in urban markets. This concentration of market power among fewer insurers can limit negotiating leverage for providers, potentially affecting reimbursement rates. Rural areas may have even fewer insurer options, reducing competitive pressure on pricing for imaging services.
Physician Supply and Demand in Louisiana
Louisiana maintains over 1,300 active providers offering Chest CT Scan services, indicating reasonable supply relative to the state's population of 4.6 million residents. This provider density helps maintain competitive pricing in metro areas, though rural parishes continue to face imaging access challenges. Adequate provider supply in urban areas translates to shorter wait times and more competitive pricing for routine diagnostic imaging.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — Chest CT Scan Costs in Louisiana
What is the average cost of a Chest CT Scan visit in Louisiana without insurance?
Does Louisiana Medicaid cover Chest CT Scan visits?
How do I find an affordable Chest CT Scan near me in Louisiana?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a Chest CT Scan visit in Louisiana?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a Chest CT Scan in Louisiana?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 71260)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota Range: $118 – $7,881 | $2,723 |
| 2 | Minnesota Range: $80 – $7,881 | $2,711 |
| 3 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $863 | $363 |
| 4 | Georgia Range: $61 – $699 | $319 |
| 5 | Wyoming Range: $54 – $598 | $287 |
| 6 | Nevada Range: $80 – $453 | $272 |
| 7 | Maine Range: $93 – $439 | $262 |
| 8 | Nebraska Range: $108 – $415 | $246 |
| 9 | Hawaii Range: $67 – $348 | $243 |
| 10 | New Mexico Range: $52 – $505 | $242 |
| 11 | Iowa Range: $73 – $424 | $237 |
| 12 | Vermont Range: $49 – $516 | $236 |
| 13 | North Carolina Range: $60 – $443 | $233 |
| 14 | New Hampshire Range: $67 – $446 | $232 |
| 15 | Massachusetts Range: $64 – $454 | $230 |
| 16 | Rhode Island Range: $54 – $454 | $226 |
| 17 | Alaska Range: $54 – $449 | $224 |
| 18 | District of Columbia Range: $49 – $454 | $223 |
| 19 | Colorado Range: $55 – $441 | $218 |
| 20 | Utah Range: $54 – $374 | $212 |
| 21 | California Range: $25 – $521 | $210 |
| 22 | Indiana Range: $54 – $411 | $206 |
| 23 | New York Range: $42 – $443 | $205 |
| 24 | Washington Range: $54 – $384 | $203 |
| 25 | Michigan Range: $57 – $356 | $195 |
| 26 | Illinois Range: $64 – $346 | $192 |
| 27 | Tennessee Range: $61 – $333 | $188 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania Range: $50 – $389 | $185 |
| 29 | West Virginia Range: $64 – $317 | $184 |
| 30 | Virginia Range: $41 – $371 | $182 |
| 31 | Idaho Range: $54 – $321 | $182 |
| 32 | New Jersey Range: $41 – $371 | $181 |
| 33 | Connecticut Range: $54 – $389 | $179 |
| 34 | Texas Range: $54 – $345 | $178 |
| 35 | South Carolina Range: $54 – $339 | $178 |
| 36 | Kansas Range: $59 – $324 | $178 |
| 37 | Oregon Range: $70 – $291 | $177 |
| 38 | South Dakota Range: $134 – $222 | $175 |
| 39 | Alabama Range: $48 – $332 | $173 |
| 40 | Delaware Range: $61 – $273 | $170 |
| 41 | Louisiana Range: $48 – $288 | $169 |
| 42 | Kentucky Range: $54 – $335 | $169 |
| 43 | Arkansas Range: $61 – $278 | $164 |
| 44 | Montana Range: $54 – $263 | $163 |
| 45 | Maryland Range: $24 – $335 | $161 |
| 46 | Mississippi Range: $48 – $307 | $160 |
| 47 | Missouri Range: $64 – $265 | $159 |
| 48 | Oklahoma Range: $51 – $298 | $154 |
| 49 | Ohio Range: $41 – $298 | $154 |
| 50 | Arizona Range: $54 – $267 | $145 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $297 | $131 |