X-ray, pelvis
Facility: Ashland Health Center
Billing Code: 72170 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72170
- Insurance Median: $176
- Cash Discount Price: $141
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.65x 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.
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 | $59 | 55% |
| Compalliance-All Plans | $141 | 132% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $150 | 140% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $172 | 161% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $176 | 165% |
| Medica Mcare - All Plans | $176 | 165% |
| Medicare (plans) | $176 | 165% |
| Health Choice-All Plans | $176 | 165% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $176 | 165% |
| Aetna | $176 | 165% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $176 | 165% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $264 | 247% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, pelvis procedure at Ashland Health Center in Ashland, KS, the facility's negotiated rates are $176, which matches the median amount paid across all payers. This rate is notably higher than the cash price of $141, meaning patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance might save money by paying the cash price directly. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, the negotiated rate of $176 exceeds the Medicare benchmark of $106.81 by a factor of 1.6, indicating a markup typical of commercial contracts. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate may not be covered if the deductible has not yet been met.
To minimize potential surprise costs, consumers should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before check-in, as these upfront payment incentives can significantly reduce the final bill. It is also important to request a detailed, itemized CPT-coded bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, which may obscure unbundled charges or services not rendered. If a patient receives a balance bill for an out-of-network service at this in-network facility, they should not pay immediately out of fear of credit damage; instead, they should dispute the charge with their insurer and request a No Surprises Act audit to ensure compliance with federal protections against unexpected billing.