X-ray, pelvis
Facility: University Of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus
Billing Code: 72170 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72170
- Insurance Median: $322
- Cash Discount Price: $167
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.01x 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 301% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 201%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Web Tpa [2115] | $228 | 213% |
| Aetna | $228 | 213% |
| Oncology Patient Assistance Programs [2295] | $228 | 213% |
| Black Lung [6055] | $228 | 213% |
| Hooray Health [8000] | $228 | 213% |
| Lucent Health [6000] | $228 | 213% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $228 | 213% |
| Healthcare Highways [2210] | $228 | 213% |
| Department Of Corrections [1340] | $278 | 260% |
| Healthpartners [1500] | $322 | 301% |
| American Postal Workers Union [1070] | $322 | 301% |
| Cigna | $322 | 301% |
| National Association Of Letter Carriers [1695] | $322 | 301% |
| Humana | $329 | 308% |
| Multiplan [1680] | $433 | 405% |
| Administrative Concepts [1005] | $433 | 405% |
| First Health [1375] | $433 | 405% |
| American Healthcare [1055] | $433 | 405% |
| Geha [1415] | $455 | 426% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $455 | 426% |
| Healthscope Benefits [2290] | $455 | 426% |
| Coventry Healthcare [1320] | $457 | 428% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the pelvis (CPT code 72170) at the University of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus in Topeka, KS, the facility's cash price is $167.00, which is significantly lower than the gross charge of $557.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with insurance payers range from $228 to $457, these amounts are generally higher than the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may save money by paying cash directly. It is important to note that the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital, and patients should explicitly ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing costly insurance claims processing.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is more accurate to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's inflated gross charges. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $106.81, and the facility's cash rate of $167.00 represents a markup of approximately 3.0 times the Medicare rate, which aligns with the typical range of 120% to 150% considered fair for commercial pricing. Although specific county or state average data was not provided in the source information, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often exceed fair market value due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. To ensure you are receiving the best possible price, always verify your specific plan's allowed amount and request an itemized bill to confirm there are no unbund