MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: St Luke Hospital & Living Center
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $1,400
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.74x 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 574% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 474%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Department Of Health And Environment | $1,400 | 574% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,400 | 574% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,400 | 574% |
| Va Ccn | $1,400 | 574% |
| Humana | $1,400 | 574% |
| Bluestem Pace | $1,400 | 574% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,414 | 580% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI, lower back (no contrast) procedure at St Luke Hospital & Living Center in Marion, KS, the negotiated rates across seven major payers are consistently $1,400, which is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $243.77. This represents a markup of 5.7 times the Medicare rate, illustrating how commercial insurance contracts often inflate costs compared to the federal baseline. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, the data does not provide a specific cash or self-pay price to compare directly against these negotiated amounts. However, for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the full cash price upfront could potentially result in lower out-of-pocket costs if the facility offers a prompt-pay discount, as these incentives can reduce bills by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
It is important to note that the $1,400 negotiated rate applies to all listed insurers, including Kansas Department of Health And Environment, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare, meaning patients should not expect variation based on their specific plan. To minimize financial exposure, consumers should request a formal itemized billing audit before scheduling, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, patients should verify their deductible status prior to receiving care, as paying the negotiated rate without meeting the deductible threshold can lead to unexpected balance billing if the facility is out-of-network or if ancillary services are not covered under the current plan.