X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $268
- Cash Discount Price: $268
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.01x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 301% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 201%). 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 | $255 | 287% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $268 | 301% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $268 | 301% |
| Humana | $268 | 301% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $268 | 301% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 72040, representing an X-ray of the neck (cervical spine), Stafford County Hospital lists a consistent cash and negotiated rate of $268.00 across all five payers, including Health Partners, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana. This uniform pricing aligns directly with the facility's cash median and median negotiated amounts, meaning there is no variation in the allowed amount depending on your specific insurance plan. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Stafford, Kansas (ZIP 67578), the data provided does not include specific state or county average figures for this procedure, so a direct comparison to regional benchmarks cannot be made at this time.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. The facility's rate of $268.00 represents a 3.0x multiplier relative to the Medicare amount, indicating a significant markup above the federal cost basis. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $268.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price in this instance. We recommend contacting the hospital directly to confirm if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available, as these programs can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% when paid in full before or shortly after the service.