X-ray, lower back
Facility: University Of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus
Billing Code: 72110 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72110
- Insurance Median: $851
- Cash Discount Price: $442
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.97x 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 797% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 697%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oncology Patient Assistance Programs [2295] | $604 | 565% |
| Healthcare Highways [2210] | $604 | 565% |
| Aetna | $604 | 565% |
| Web Tpa [2115] | $604 | 565% |
| Hooray Health [8000] | $604 | 565% |
| Black Lung [6055] | $604 | 565% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $604 | 565% |
| Lucent Health [6000] | $604 | 565% |
| Department Of Corrections [1340] | $736 | 689% |
| National Association Of Letter Carriers [1695] | $851 | 797% |
| Healthpartners [1500] | $851 | 797% |
| American Postal Workers Union [1070] | $851 | 797% |
| Cigna | $851 | 797% |
| Humana | $869 | 814% |
| American Healthcare [1055] | $1,145 | 1072% |
| First Health [1375] | $1,145 | 1072% |
| Administrative Concepts [1005] | $1,145 | 1072% |
| Multiplan [1680] | $1,145 | 1072% |
| Healthscope Benefits [2290] | $1,202 | 1125% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,202 | 1125% |
| Geha [1415] | $1,202 | 1125% |
| Coventry Healthcare [1320] | $1,208 | 1131% |
| Ks Disability Determination [6090] | $1,473 | 1379% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this X-ray of the lower back at the University Of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus, the facility's negotiated rates range from $604 to $1,473, with a median paid amount of $1,473.00. This figure is notably higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, indicating a significant markup typical of commercial contracts. While the facility offers a cash median price of $442.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates, patients with high-deductible plans should be aware that paying out-of-pocket might be more cost-effective if their insurance allows them to exceed the negotiated ceiling. It is crucial to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as assuming in-network status guarantees the lowest price can lead to unexpected costs if the contract rate exceeds your cash-pay option.
To minimize financial exposure, patients should proactively request self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before check-in, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, receiving a detailed, itemized statement is essential to identify unbundled codes or services not rendered, ensuring you are only paying for what was actually provided. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure, understanding that commercial rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare helps contextualize the $1,473.00 charge. If you receive a balance bill after insurance payment, you have the right to dispute it under the No Surprises Act, particularly if the service was part of an in-network facility visit,