X-ray, pelvis
Facility: Wilson Medical Center
Billing Code: 72170 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72170
- Insurance Median: $198
- Cash Discount Price: $185
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.85x 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 $106.81 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.
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 | $125 - $247 | 117% |
| Aetna | $131 - $247 | 123% |
| Tricare | $131 | 123% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $131 - $230 | 123% |
| Humana | $131 | 123% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $131 - $247 | 123% |
| Cigna | $198 | 185% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $227 | 213% |
| Mulitplan-All Plans | $227 | 213% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For CPT code 72170, an X-ray of the pelvis at Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha, KS, the facility's cash median price is $185.00, which is lower than the gross charge of $247.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients should be aware that their insurance negotiated rates vary significantly; for instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna have negotiated ranges starting at $125 and $131 respectively, while Health Partners-All Plans and Mulitplan-All Plans have fixed negotiated rates of $227.00. Generally, cash-pay options can be more cost-effective for patients with high-deductible plans if the insurance allowed amount exceeds the cash price, though this specific service shows the cash rate is competitive against the lower end of the payer ranges.
To maximize savings, patients should proactively request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as hospitals often offer fee reductions of 20% to 50% for upfront payment that bypasses costly insurance claims processing. It is also important to avoid balance billing by ensuring the facility is in-network, as the No Surprises Act protects patients from unexpected out-of-network charges for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Finally, if you receive a bill, always demand a full itemized statement rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.