MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $2,625
- Cash Discount Price: $1,596
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.77x 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 1077% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 977%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare (plans) | $109 | 45% |
| Kaiser | $109 | 45% |
| Humana | $109 | 45% |
| Aetna | $109 - $3,191 | 45% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $109 - $650 | 45% |
| Cigna | $109 | 45% |
| Kansas Health | $109 | 45% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $543 | 223% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $2,625 | 1077% |
| Wpaa | $2,792 | 1145% |
| Christian Health Aid | $3,191 | 1309% |
| Multiplan | $3,191 - $3,590 | 1309% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $3,590 | 1473% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, lower back (no contrast) procedure at Centura St. Catherine-Dodge City, the facility's cash median price of $1,596 is significantly lower than the average negotiated rate of $2,625 paid by commercial insurers. While Medicare sets a fixed benchmark of $243.77 for this service, commercial plans negotiate rates that vary widely, ranging from $109 to $3,590 depending on the specific insurance carrier. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $1,596 upfront may result in substantial savings compared to the higher negotiated amounts their insurance would have allowed, provided they have not yet met their deductible. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as some in-network contracts can exceed the cash-pay rate, and you should explicitly request self-pay or prompt-pay discounts prior to check-in to avoid being billed the full insurance negotiated amount.
The facility is located in Dodge City, Kansas, and operates as a Proprietary Acute Care Hospital. While the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure, the facility's cash rate of $1,596 stands in contrast to the median negotiated rate of $2,625 across the 13 payers listed. Patients should be aware that commercial insurance rates often include administrative costs and contract premiums that can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40% above the true cost of care. To ensure you are not overcharged, request a detailed, itemized billing audit if you receive a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital invoices contain errors such as double-billing