X-ray, pelvis
Facility: Stormont Vail Hospital
Billing Code: 72170 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72170
- Insurance Median: $96
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.90x 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.
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 | $61 - $93 | 57% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $61 - $93 | 57% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $62 - $375 | 58% |
| Aetna | $96 - $98 | 90% |
| Humana | $96 - $98 | 90% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 72170 (X-ray, pelvis) at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS, the facility's negotiated rates range from $61 to $98 depending on your specific insurance plan, with a median paid amount of $98.00. While the hospital's cash median is not listed, it is important to note that cash-pay options can sometimes be more cost-effective for patients with high-deductible plans if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. Since the facility is a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital, you should proactively ask the registration desk about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can significantly lower your out-of-pocket costs by bypassing the administrative overhead associated with insurance billing cycles.
When evaluating this price, it is crucial to compare the facility's rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's gross chargemaster list, which is often inflated. The Medicare amount for this service is $106.81, and the facility's median negotiated rate of $98.00 is 90% of that benchmark, indicating a rate that is competitive relative to the federal cost baseline. Because commercial insurance contracts often include administrative markups that can inflate prices by 20% to 40% above the true cost of care, relying on the Medicare rate provides a more accurate picture of fair pricing. If you receive a bill that appears higher than these figures, you should request a detailed, itemized audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected.