CMS Price Transparency Data

CT scan, lower back (lumbar spine)

Facility: Medstar Georgetown University Hospital

Billing Code: 72131 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence
A fair price for this
$279
about 2.6× the $107 Medicare rate · typically $150–$440
modeled estimate · not a bill or quote
What this hospital charges insurers
$230
Below the fair price — a good deal
about $49 under the fair price · 2.1× Medicare
Medicare pays $107 Fair price $279 This hospital $230 Cash price $1,788 Hospital's list price $2,750

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other DC hospitals

One of the lower prices — 1 of 3 other DC hospitals charge more for the same procedure.

Cheapest $115 Priciest $1,292

Black dot = this hospital, among the 4 DC 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 $279 (about 2.6× the $107 Medicare rate). Medstar Georgetown University Hospital charges insurers about $230, or about $1,788 in cash — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Washington, DC.

What each insurance company pays

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

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

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Aetna✓ Cigna✓ Humana Kaiser 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 $124 - $963 116%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor $124 - $1,126 116%
Aetnamajor $127 - $811 119%
Cignamajor $1,243 1164%
Humanamajor $130 122%
Amerigroup $230 215%
AmeriHealth $230 215%
+ 2 smaller / regional plans $130 - $770
Government programs also on file: Military & VA.
Excludes 3 rental-network / third-party entries (e.g. Multiplan, PHCS) — these are pricing networks, not insurers.

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

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Facility Profile & Credentials

  • Address: 3800 Reservoir Rd, Washington, DC 20007
  • CMS Rating: ★★★☆☆
  • Ownership Type: Proprietary
  • Hospital Type: Acute Care Hospitals