MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Goodland Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $1,254
- Cash Discount Price: $1,254
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.14x 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 514% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 414%). 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 | $526 | 216% |
| Wppa | $1,184 - $1,254 | 486% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,254 | 514% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of the lower back (no contrast) at Goodland Regional Medical Center in Goodland, KS, the cash median price is $1,254.00, which matches the median negotiated rate for Wppa and UnitedHealthcare plans. This cash price is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,393.00 and represents a substantial discount compared to the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, where the commercial rate is approximately 5.1 times higher. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, 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, though in this specific case, the cash rate aligns with the negotiated amounts.
Patients should verify their specific plan details before scheduling, as commercial rates often include administrative overhead that can inflate the baseline price. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, it is crucial to request a full itemized bill to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. Additionally, patients should inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before check-in, as paying upfront can sometimes bypass the costly insurance billing cycle and reduce the final amount owed.