MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $950
- Cash Discount Price: $950
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.90x 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 390% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 290%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Health Partners-All Plans | $902 | 370% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $950 | 390% |
| Humana | $950 | 390% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $950 | 390% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $950 | 390% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, lower back (no contrast) procedure at Stafford County Hospital, the cash price is $950, which matches the median negotiated rate across all five major payers including UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Health Partners. This facility, a Critical Access Hospital in Stafford, KS, charges the same amount regardless of insurance, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying cash directly rather than relying on insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount would not exceed the cash price. Since the facility is government-owned and the cash rate equals the negotiated rate, there is no balance billing risk for in-network patients, but those without insurance should still inquire about prompt-pay discounts before scheduling to potentially reduce the cost further.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $243.77, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing fairness; commercial rates are significantly higher than this federal cost basis, reflecting the administrative overhead and contract structures of private insurance. While the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this exact CPT code, the consistent $950 rate across all listed payers indicates a uniform pricing structure typical of government-owned facilities. Consumers should avoid accepting summary bills and instead request a full itemized audit to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, and they should verify their deductible status before proceeding, as the $950 charge represents the full amount payable if the patient's plan has not yet met its deductible threshold.