X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: Wesley Medical Center
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $330
- Cash Discount Price: $1,906
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.71x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 371% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 271%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| First Health | $34 - $879 | 38% |
| Multiplan | $36 - $1,715 | 40% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $49 | 55% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $50 | 56% |
| Aetna | $51 - $680 | 57% |
| Amerigroup | $51 | 57% |
| United | $182 - $858 | 205% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $184 | 207% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $330 - $953 | 371% |
| Wppa | $332 | 373% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $343 | 386% |
| Preferred Health Choices | $360 | 405% |
| Medical Associates Health Plan | $360 | 405% |
| Spirit Aerosystems | $610 | 686% |
| Triwest Healthcare Alliance | $1,239 | 1394% |
| Usa Managed Care | $1,620 | 1822% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the cervical spine at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, the cash price is $1,906.00, which matches the facility's cash median. This rate is significantly higher than the state average, as indicated by a 3.7x multiplier relative to Medicare's benchmark of $88.91. While commercial insurance plans like First Health and Multiplan have negotiated rates ranging from $34 to $1,715, these amounts often exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead and contract structures. Patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash price directly, as the insurance negotiated rate can sometimes be higher than the out-of-pocket cash cost.
To minimize potential costs, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. It is also important to request a full itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital invoices contain errors such as unbundled codes or charges for services not rendered. If a patient receives a balance bill for an out-of-network service at this in-network facility, they should not pay immediately; instead, they should dispute the charge with their insurer and request a No Surprises Act audit to protect against unexpected costs.