MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $226
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.93x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare (plans) | $224 - $228 | 92% |
| Via Christi Research | $224 | 92% |
| Vc Hope | $224 | 92% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $224 | 92% |
| Humana | $224 | 92% |
| Va | $224 | 92% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $228 - $626 | 94% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $228 | 94% |
| Corizon | $279 | 114% |
| Smarthealth | $313 | 128% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $380 | 156% |
| Cigna | $467 | 192% |
| Aetna | $553 | 227% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $940 | 386% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, lower back (no contrast) procedure at Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc, the facility's negotiated rates range from $224 to $940 depending on the payer. The lowest negotiated amount is $224, which aligns with the rates for Medicare plans, Via Christi Research, Vc Hope, Saint Lukes Health Systems, Humana, and the VA. However, the highest negotiated rate is $940 for Coventry City Of Wichita. This specific procedure has a Medicare benchmark of $243.77. While the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital in Wichita, KS, the data does not provide specific cash or median paid amounts to directly compare against state or county averages.
Patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often exceed the Medicare benchmark due to administrative costs and contract dynamics, though some payers like UnitedHealthcare show a wide range from $228 to $626. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying cash upfront might be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rate could exceed the cash price. We recommend contacting the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can significantly reduce the final bill. Additionally, if you receive a bill, always request a full itemized statement to verify that no services were unbundled or double-charged, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal audit.