X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: Stormont Vail Hospital
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $79
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.89x 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 $88.91 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ambetter / Centene | $50 - $75 | 56% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $50 - $75 | 56% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $50 - $597 | 56% |
| Humana | $79 - $81 | 89% |
| Aetna | $79 - $81 | 89% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 72040, representing an X-ray of the cervical spine, Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS, has a negotiated median paid amount of $81.00, which is 90% of the Medicare benchmark rate of $88.91. This facility is a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital located at 1500 SW 10th Avenue. While the hospital's negotiated rates are competitive relative to the Medicare baseline, patients should be aware that cash-pay options are not listed in this report. However, for individuals with high-deductible plans, paying cash directly can sometimes be more cost-effective if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the facility's cash price, though the specific cash rate is not available for this service.
Insurance coverage varies significantly across payers, with Blue Cross Blue Shield showing a wide range from $50 to $597 across eight plans, while Humana and Aetna have a narrower range of $79 to $81. Patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as in-network rates are contractually capped but do not guarantee the lowest possible price. To minimize costs, consumers should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before check-in, as these upfront fee reductions can bypass administrative processing costs. Additionally, if a patient receives a bill that includes charges for services not rendered or unbundled components, they should request a formal itemized audit to ensure accuracy, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through written dispute.