MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $1,425
- Cash Discount Price: $1,125
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.85x 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 585% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 485%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers - All Plans | $1,275 | 523% |
| Aetna | $1,350 | 554% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $1,350 | 554% |
| First Health - All Plans | $1,425 | 585% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $1,425 | 585% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,425 | 585% |
| Cigna | $1,425 | 585% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the lower back without contrast at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the facility's negotiated rates for seven major payers range from $1,275 to $1,425, with a median allowed amount of $1,425. This negotiated rate is notably higher than the cash price of $1,125, meaning patients with high-deductible plans or those who have already met their out-of-pocket maximum may find paying out-of-pocket cheaper than using insurance. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the data does not provide a specific county or state average for comparison; however, it is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract markups that can exceed the true cost of care represented by Medicare benchmarks.
The Medicare amount for this procedure is $243.77, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing structure. Although the data indicates a "vs_medicare" metric of 5.8, this figure likely represents a specific ratio or variance calculation rather than a direct dollar difference, and commercial rates frequently average 200% to 300% of the Medicare rate due to administrative costs and network dynamics. Patients should be aware that hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual charges, so requesting a full itemized CPT-coded statement is essential to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, since this is a government-owned facility, patients should explicitly ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as paying in full upfront can sometimes bypass the higher insurance negotiated rates and reduce the final cost.