MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Menorah Medical Center
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $1,100
- Cash Discount Price: $13,017
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.51x 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 $243.77 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 451% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 351%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amerigroup | $131 | 54% |
| United | $131 - $5,858 | 54% |
| Healthyblue | $134 | 55% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $135 | 55% |
| Aetna | $136 - $6,639 | 56% |
| Unicare | $136 | 56% |
| Multiplan | $197 - $9,633 | 81% |
| Home State Health Plan | $216 | 89% |
| Corvel Corporation | $234 - $8,461 | 96% |
| Oha Network | $243 - $6,508 | 100% |
| Cigna | $272 - $10,414 | 112% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $622 - $5,858 | 255% |
| Humana | $711 - $918 | 292% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $2,421 | 993% |
| Nhc Advantage | $2,473 | 1014% |
| Wppa Providrs Care Network | $2,603 | 1068% |
| Universal Healthcare | $4,556 | 1869% |
| Coventry | $5,233 | 2147% |
| Coventry Kc Mo | $5,337 | 2189% |
| College Park Family Care Center | $5,597 | 2296% |
| Triwest Health Alliance | $9,763 | 4005% |
| Focus Healthcare Mgmt, Inc | $9,763 | 4005% |
| Cco, Inc. | $9,763 | 4005% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, lower back (no contrast) procedure at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, KS, the cash price is $13,017, which matches the facility's median paid amount. This cash rate is significantly higher than the state average, as indicated by a 4.5x multiplier relative to the Medicare benchmark of $243.77. While commercial insurance plans like United and Aetna negotiate rates ranging from $131 to over $6,600 depending on the specific plan, these negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price. Patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash price directly, as the insurance negotiated rate could be substantially higher than the out-of-pocket cash cost. To potentially lower this amount, patients should contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront.
It is important to note that commercial insurance contracts create a ceiling on what payers will allow, but these allowed amounts do not always reflect the lowest possible price for the service. For instance, while United has a wide range of negotiated rates up to $5,858, the cash price remains fixed at $13,017, suggesting that in some cases, paying out-of-network or self-pay might be cheaper than relying on an in-network plan's negotiated rate. Furthermore, patients should be aware of balance billing risks if they receive care from out-of-network providers, though the No Surprises Act protects against surprise bills for emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure accuracy, patients should request a full itemized bill rather