X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $82
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.92x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $68 | 76% |
| Medicare (plans) | $81 - $83 | 91% |
| Via Christi Research | $81 | 91% |
| Humana | $81 | 91% |
| Vc Hope | $81 | 91% |
| Va | $81 | 91% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $81 | 91% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $83 - $228 | 93% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $83 | 93% |
| Aetna | $86 | 97% |
| Corizon | $102 | 115% |
| Smarthealth | $114 | 128% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $138 | 155% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 72040, representing an X-ray of the cervical spine, Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc. has a negotiated rate of $82.00, which aligns closely with the state average of $82.00. This rate is significantly lower than the highest negotiated amount of $228.00 found among UnitedHealthcare plans and remains within the typical range of other major payers like Medicare, Humana, and Aetna. While the facility's cash price is not listed, patients with high-deductible plans should note that paying cash upfront can sometimes be cheaper than the insurance negotiated rate if the insurer's allowed amount exceeds the cash price. It is always advisable to ask the hospital directly about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% when paid in full before or shortly after the service.
This service is benchmarked against the federal Medicare rate of $88.91, showing a ratio of 0.9, indicating the facility's negotiated pricing is slightly below the Medicare standard. The facility is located in Wichita, Kansas, and serves 13 different payer plans, with the lowest negotiated rate of $68.00 seen with Coventry City Of Wichita. Because commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can inflate costs, it is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling. If you receive a bill that appears higher than expected, you should request an itemized audit to check for errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected through formal