MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Stanton County Hospital
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $1,996
- Cash Discount Price: $2,100
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.19x 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 819% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 719%). 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 | $525 - $1,996 | 215% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $2,058 | 844% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $2,100 | 861% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this MRI of the lower back (no contrast) at Stanton County Hospital in Johnson, KS, the cash price is $2,100, which matches the facility's negotiated rate with Healthy Blue Mcaid. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the cash price is notably higher than the state average for this procedure. Patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find the cash price more affordable than their insurance negotiated rate, which averages $1,996 across three payers including Blue Cross Blue Shield. It is important to note that even though the negotiated rate is lower than the cash price, many patients still pay the full negotiated amount if they have not yet met their deductible or if their plan requires them to pay the allowed amount before the deductible is satisfied.
Before finalizing payment, patients should request an itemized billing audit to ensure no errors exist, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, ask the billing department about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50% if paid upfront, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims. If you receive a surprise balance bill from an out-of-network provider, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Always verify your specific plan details and request a written waiver of insurance submission if you choose to pay cash directly to avoid automatic claims that could void any discounts.