X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: Hamilton County Hospital
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $140
- Cash Discount Price: $144
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.57x 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 $88.91 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 | $75 - $160 | 84% |
| First Health Coventry - All Plans | $122 | 137% |
| Cigna | $137 | 154% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $137 | 154% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $144 | 162% |
| Aetna | $245 | 276% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the neck at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, KS, the cash price is $144.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rate with several major payers including Blue Cross Blue Shield, First Health Coventry, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and the VA. This cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, indicating a markup of 160% over the federal baseline. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the full cash price upfront more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates for many commercial plans exceed the cash amount. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly ask the billing department for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%.
The data shows that the cash price of $144.00 is higher than the median negotiated rate of $140.00 and the median paid amount of $137.00 across the six payer plans listed. However, without specific county or state average data provided in the source material, no direct comparison to regional pricing averages can be made. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still request an itemized bill to verify that all charges are accurate and that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been included. Disputing any errors in writing is the most effective way to ensure the final invoice reflects the true cost of care.