X-ray, pelvis
Facility: Salina Regional Health Center
Billing Code: 72170 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72170
- Insurance Median: $530
- Cash Discount Price: $412
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.96x 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 496% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 396%). 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 | $132 - $139 | 124% |
| Preferred Phsic | $353 | 330% |
| Preferred Healthcare - All Other Plans | $477 | 447% |
| Cigna | $530 | 496% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $530 | 496% |
| Aetna | $530 | 496% |
| Multiplan (Mpi)-All Plans | $530 | 496% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the pelvis at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, Kansas, the facility's cash median price is $412.00, which is lower than the state average of $446.00. While the facility's gross charge is $589.00, commercial insurance plans typically pay negotiated rates ranging from $132 to $530 depending on the specific carrier and plan. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $412.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates for many payers exceed the cash amount. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly request a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
It is important to note that Medicare sets a benchmark of $106.81 for this service, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. Commercial negotiated rates often average between 200% and 300% of the Medicare amount, though fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150% of this rate. Patients should avoid comparing discounts to the facility's inflated gross charges and instead focus on the Medicare benchmark to understand the true cost of care. Additionally, under the No Surprises Act, patients are protected from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, but they should still verify their coverage status and request an itemized bill to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are included in their final statement.