MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: University Of Ks Hlth System Great Bend Campus
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $871
- Cash Discount Price: $494
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.57x 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 357% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 257%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $223 | 91% |
| Ku Athletics [503200094] | $223 | 91% |
| Workers Comp [503999901] | $223 | 91% |
| Medicare (plans) | $227 | 93% |
| Allwell [503200078] | $229 | 94% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $229 | 94% |
| Triwest [503201703] | $235 | 96% |
| Tricare | $235 | 96% |
| Humana | $235 | 96% |
| Centurion [5032000966] | $290 | 119% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $323 | 133% |
| Occunet [503999930] | $468 | 192% |
| Fort Hays State Student Athletes [5032000960] | $468 | 192% |
| 6 Degrees Health [503999050] | $557 | 228% |
| Advanced Medical Pricing Solutions [503301513] | $705 | 289% |
| Alt Wppa [5032000964] | $1,038 | 426% |
| Wppa [503200056] | $1,038 | 426% |
| Meritain Health [503200039] | $1,038 - $1,483 | 426% |
| Alt Carelon Behavioral Health [503200905] | $1,236 | 507% |
| Allied National [503999937] | $1,483 | 608% |
| Aetna | $1,483 | 608% |
| Cigna | $1,483 - $1,977 | 608% |
| Aha-Healthcare Preferred [503200050] | $1,483 | 608% |
| First Health [5032000110] | $1,483 | 608% |
| National Assn Letter Carriers [503200019] | $1,483 | 608% |
| Php [503200005] | $1,483 | 608% |
| Alt Meritain Health [503999911] | $1,483 | 608% |
| Correct Care Solutions [50311253] | $1,730 | 710% |
| Usa Managed Care [503999030] | $2,224 | 912% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the lower back (no contrast) at the University of KS Health System Great Bend Campus, the cash price of $494.00 is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $2,471.00. While the Medicare benchmark rate for this service is $243.77, the facility's cash rate is nearly double that amount, reflecting a markup common in acute care settings. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $494.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than using insurance, as many commercial payers have negotiated rates that exceed the cash price. For instance, while UnitedHealthcare and Ku Athletics have a negotiated rate of $223.00, other carriers like Cigna and Cigna's plans range from $1,483.00 to $1,977.00, which would result in much higher out-of-pocket costs if the patient's deductible has not yet been met.
Patients should actively inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these programs can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees. Although the facility is a government-owned hospital district, the wide variance in negotiated rates across 29 different payers—from $223.00 for some plans to nearly $2,224.00 for others—highlights that being in-network does not guarantee the lowest possible price. To ensure you are not overcharged, request a full itemized bill that lists every CPT code and unit cost, as summary