MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Ashland Health Center
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $767
- Cash Discount Price: $614
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.15x 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 315% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 215%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $257 | 105% |
| Compalliance-All Plans | $614 | 252% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $652 | 267% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $752 | 308% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $767 | 315% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $767 | 315% |
| Medicare (plans) | $767 | 315% |
| Aetna | $767 | 315% |
| Health Choice-All Plans | $767 | 315% |
| Medica Mcare - All Plans | $767 | 315% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $767 | 315% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $1,150 | 472% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, lower back (no contrast) procedure at Ashland Health Center in Ashland, Kansas, the facility's cash price is $614.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by most major insurers. While the facility's cash rate is below the state average, it is important to note that commercial insurance plans often pay significantly higher negotiated rates—such as $767.00 for UnitedHealthcare and $1,150.00 for Providers Care—due to administrative costs and contract structures. For patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying the cash price of $614.00 upfront may result in immediate savings compared to the insurance negotiated rate, provided the patient can afford the difference without incurring additional out-of-pocket costs.
Patients should be aware that the $767.00 median paid amount reflects the negotiated rates for in-network plans, but this does not guarantee the lowest possible price for every individual. To potentially reduce costs, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling or receiving services, as these upfront payment incentives can lower the final bill. Additionally, if a patient receives a bill that includes charges for services not rendered or items that were cancelled, they should request a formal itemized audit to identify errors, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes that can be corrected. Finally, while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still verify their specific plan details and avoid signing away their rights to dispute out-of-network charges without fully understanding the terms.