MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Salina Regional Health Center
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $914
- Cash Discount Price: $1,850
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.75x 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 375% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 275%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $551 - $580 | 226% |
| Preferred Phsic | $609 - $2,562 | 250% |
| Preferred Healthcare - All Other Plans | $822 - $3,458 | 337% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $914 - $3,843 | 375% |
| Multiplan (Mpi)-All Plans | $914 - $3,843 | 375% |
| Cigna | $914 - $3,843 | 375% |
| Aetna | $914 - $3,843 | 375% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the lower back (no contrast) at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, KS, the cash median price is $1,850.00, which is significantly higher than the facility's negotiated rate of $914.00. While commercial payers like Preferred Phsic and Preferred Healthcare have negotiated rates ranging from $609 to $3,458 depending on the specific plan, the cash price remains the lowest fixed amount available for self-pay patients. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying the cash price of $1,850.00 upfront may result in lower total out-of-pocket costs compared to having insurance pay a negotiated rate that exceeds the cash price, especially if the patient's deductible is high.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against Medicare, which sets the rate at $243.77 for this procedure; the cash price is approximately 7.6 times the Medicare amount, reflecting standard commercial pricing structures. Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, it does not apply to self-pay scenarios where no insurance is involved. To minimize costs, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these programs can offer immediate fee reductions that bypass standard insurance administrative fees. Always request a full itemized bill before paying to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final charge.