CMS Price Transparency Data

CT scan, lower back (lumbar spine)

Facility: Petaluma Valley Hospital

Billing Code: 72131 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price medium confidence
A fair price for this
$460
about 4.3× the $107 Medicare rate · typically $171–$659
modeled estimate · not a bill or quote
What this hospital charges insurers
$619
Above the fair price
about $159 over the fair price · 5.8× Medicare
Medicare pays $107 Fair price $460 This hospital $619 Cash price $3,326 Hospital's list price $6,521

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other CA hospitals

Highest price of the 9 CA hospitals we have prices for — worth calling around.

Cheapest $32 Priciest $619

Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 CA hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.

⚠ The cash price looks unusually high next to the insurance price — it may be the full list price, not a real cash discount. Call to confirm the self-pay rate.

A fair price for a CT scan, lower back (lumbar spine) is about $460 (about 4.3× the $107 Medicare rate). Petaluma Valley Hospital charges insurers about $619, or about $3,326 in cash — above the fair price. Located in Petaluma, CA.

This price is above the fair BaseRate — you may be able to pay less

Ask the hospital for the cash / self-pay price, check whether you qualify for financial assistance, or negotiate the bill down toward the fair price of about $460. Many patients pay well below the first number they’re quoted — the checklists below walk you through it.

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

3 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Aetna CignaHumanaKaiser Permanente

Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.

Insurance company Price range vs. Medicare
UnitedHealthcaremajor $179 168%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor $1,369 - $1,968 1282%
Aetnamajor $144 - $1,058 135%
Health Net $141 132%

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

Insurance Before you use insurance

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost

A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.

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Facility Profile & Credentials

  • Address: 400 N McDowell Blvd, Petaluma, CA 94954
  • CMS Rating: ★★★★☆
  • Ownership Type: Voluntary non-profit - Other
  • Hospital Type: Acute Care Hospitals