X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: Lindsborg Community Hospital
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $596
- Cash Discount Price: $456
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.70x 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 $88.91 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 670% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 570%). 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 | $158 | 178% |
| Tricare | $306 | 344% |
| Coventry Mcr Adv | $309 | 348% |
| Cigna | $554 | 623% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $586 | 659% |
| Coventry Comm-All Other Plans | $586 | 659% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $606 | 682% |
| Phcs Preferred-All Plans | $606 | 682% |
| Century Health-All Plans | $619 | 696% |
| Health Partners -All Plans | $619 | 696% |
| Coventry Wc | $619 | 696% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $619 | 696% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the neck (cervical spine) at Lindsborg Community Hospital in Lindsborg, KS, the cash price is $456.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $596.00 to $619.00 paid by insurance carriers like Multiplan, Health Partners, and Coventry Wc. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash price. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly ask the hospital for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can significantly reduce the final bill by bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The facility's cash rate of $456.00 is approximately 5.1 times the Medicare amount, reflecting the standard commercial pricing structure where negotiated rates typically range from 200% to 300% of the Medicare rate. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this code, the significant difference between the cash price and the highest negotiated rates (up to $619.00) highlights the importance of verifying your specific plan's allowed amount. If you receive a bill that exceeds the cash price or the negotiated rate, you should request an itemized billing audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital