X-ray, lower back
Facility: Lincoln County Hospital
Billing Code: 72110 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72110
- Insurance Median: $248
- Cash Discount Price: $309
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.32x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 232% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 132%). 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 | $248 | 232% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 72110 (X-ray, lower back) at Lincoln County Hospital in Lincoln, KS, the cash median price is $309.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rate of $248.00 paid by Blue Cross Blue Shield. This specific service is priced at 2.3 times the Medicare benchmark of $106.81. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, patients should be aware that cash payments can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance if their plan's negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. It is always advisable to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final amount owed.
To ensure you are paying the correct amount, it is important to request an itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. When reviewing your statement, verify that charges are listed by specific CPT codes and that no items were billed for supplies or tests that were cancelled or never delivered. Additionally, since this service is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, you should confirm your deductible status before scheduling, as paying the negotiated rate without meeting your deductible could result in higher out-of-pocket costs than expected.