X-ray, lower back
Facility: Saint Luke'S South Hospital
Billing Code: 72110 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72110
- Insurance Median: $296
- Cash Discount Price: $931
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.77x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 277% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 177%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $40 - $1,473 | 37% |
| Humana | $41 - $68 | 38% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $46 - $1,165 | 43% |
| Transplants-Case Rates [5750] | $56 - $1,551 | 52% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $60 - $136 | 56% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $70 - $296 | 66% |
| Cigna | $111 - $1,177 | 104% |
| Commercial-Contracted [8000] | $251 - $1,255 | 235% |
| First Health [5512] | $919 | 860% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 72110 (X-ray, lower back) at Saint Luke's South Hospital in Overland Park, KS, the facility's cash median price is $931.00, which is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by most insurance plans. While the hospital's gross charge is $1,551.00, commercial payers like Aetna, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated rates ranging from $40 to $1,473, often exceeding the cash price. This pricing structure highlights a common billing dynamic where paying out-of-pocket can be more cost-effective for patients with high-deductible plans, as the insurance negotiated rate may surpass the cash-pay amount. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate without meeting the deductible could result in higher out-of-pocket costs than self-pay.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is critical to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. If you receive a balance bill for the difference between the provider's chargemaster rate and your insurance allowed amount, you may have protections under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. Additionally, you should inquire about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the cash price by 20% to 50% if paid upfront, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing. Always dispute any surprise bills in writing and avoid signing consent waivers that waive your rights to review out