MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Greenwood County Hospital
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $1,209
- Cash Discount Price: $1,145
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.96x 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 496% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 396%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $495 - $521 | 203% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $511 | 210% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $601 - $1,202 | 247% |
| Tricare | $601 | 247% |
| Choicecare Mcr Adv - All Plans | $601 | 247% |
| Integrated Health Plan - All Plans | $1,073 | 440% |
| First Health - All Other Plans | $1,216 | 499% |
| Beech Street - All Plans | $1,216 | 499% |
| First Health Ccn Network | $1,216 | 499% |
| Preferred Hs (Coventry) - All Plans | $1,288 | 528% |
| Principal Health Care Inc - All Plans | $1,359 | 557% |
| Amerigroup Mcaid-All Plans | $1,431 | 587% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,431 | 587% |
| Providrs Care/Wppa - All Plans | $2,146 | 880% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, lower back (no contrast) procedure at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka, Kansas, the facility's cash median price of $1,145 is lower than the state average of $1,202, offering a potential savings of $57 for self-pay patients. However, because this is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, patients should verify if their specific insurance plan qualifies for a prompt-pay discount before scheduling, as paying upfront can sometimes reduce the final bill further than the listed cash rate. While the facility's gross charge is $1,431, commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Integrated Health Plan have negotiated rates ranging from $601 to $1,073, which are significantly higher than the cash price; this highlights that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying cash directly may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to insurance reimbursement, provided the patient understands their deductible status.
It is important to note that the facility's negotiated rates often exceed the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, with the median negotiated amount reaching $1,209, which aligns closely with the cash median. This pricing structure reflects standard commercial contract dynamics where administrative costs and network tiering influence final rates, rather than the full chargemaster list price. If a patient receives a bill that includes charges for services not rendered or unbundled components, they should request a formal itemized audit to identify errors, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be resolved through written dispute. Additionally, under the No Surprises Act, patients are protected from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, meaning any unexpected