X-ray, lower back

For the CPT code 72110 (X-ray, lower back) at University Of Kansas Hospital, the facility's cash price of $394.00 is significantly lower than the gross charge of $1,971.00, offering a substantial discount for self-pay patients. While the hospital's negotiated rates with commercial payers range from $84 to $2,444, the cash price often represents the most affordable option, particularly for individuals with high-deductible plans where insurance coverage might not fully cover the negotiated amount. Patients should verify their specific plan details and ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final cost by bypassing administrative fees associated with insurance claims.

The facility's Medicare benchmarking rate of $106.81 serves as a critical baseline for understanding pricing transparency, with commercial negotiated rates frequently exceeding this federal standard. Although the data provided does not include explicit state or county average comparisons, the wide variance in payer rates—from as low as $84 with Larned State Hospital to over $2,000 with Workers Comp—highlights the importance of checking individual plan allowances before scheduling. To ensure fair pricing, consumers should request an itemized bill to review specific CPT codes and avoid balance billing, as federal protections under the No Surprises Act generally prevent out-of-network providers from charging patients for services rendered at in-network facilities.