MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Stevens County Hospital
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $770
- Cash Discount Price: $885
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.16x 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 316% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 216%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $327 | 134% |
| Aetna | $337 - $885 | 138% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $525 - $553 | 215% |
| First Health - All Plans | $796 | 327% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $841 | 345% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $885 | 363% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, lower back (no contrast) procedure at Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, KS, the cash price is $885.00, which matches the facility's gross charge and the median paid amount for Medicaid/KanCare. This cash rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, reflecting a markup of 3.2 times the federal baseline. While commercial payers like Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield negotiate rates ranging from $327 to $885, these negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price for patients with high-deductible plans. In such cases, paying the cash rate directly can be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, provided you verify your deductible status and confirm that the insurer's allowed amount does not surpass the cash price.
To ensure you receive the most accurate pricing, it is essential to request a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before scheduling your visit, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. If you receive a bill after using insurance, always demand a full itemized CPT-coded statement rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. If you encounter a balance bill for out-of-network ancillary services, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which prohibits providers from charging you the difference between their chargemaster rate and the insurer's allowed amount for emergency or non-emergency care at in-network facilities.