X-ray, lower back
Facility: Salina Regional Health Center
Billing Code: 72110 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72110
- Insurance Median: $912
- Cash Discount Price: $709
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.54x 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 $106.81 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 854% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 754%). 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 | $260 - $273 | 243% |
| Preferred Phsic | $608 | 569% |
| Preferred Healthcare - All Other Plans | $820 | 768% |
| Multiplan (Mpi)-All Plans | $912 | 854% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $912 | 854% |
| Aetna | $912 | 854% |
| Cigna | $912 | 854% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the lower back at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, KS, the facility's cash price of $709.00 is notably lower than the median negotiated rate of $912.00 paid by most insurance plans. While the facility's negotiated rate aligns with the state average of $912.00, the cash price remains significantly below the gross charge of $1,013.00. Because commercial insurance contracts often include administrative overhead that inflates the baseline price by 20% to 40%, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, provided they have not yet met their deductible. It is always advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can further reduce the final amount owed.
When evaluating the cost against federal benchmarks, the Medicare rate for this service is $106.81, which serves as the objective baseline for assessing pricing markups. Although the facility's cash price exceeds the Medicare rate, it falls well within the range of fair pricing, which is typically defined as 120% to 150% of the Medicare amount. Commercial negotiated rates generally average between 200% and 300% of the Medicare rate, so the $912.00 allowed by insurers represents a significant markup over the true cost of delivery. To ensure you are not overpaying, request an itemized billing audit to verify that all charges are accurate and that no services were unbundled or double-billed, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can