X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: Clay County Medical Center
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $22
- Cash Discount Price: $150
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.25x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplan- All Plans | $11 - $263 | 12% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $13 - $263 | 15% |
| Aetna | $21 - $258 | 24% |
| Wppa/Providrs Care- All Plans | $21 - $258 | 24% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $22 - $263 | 25% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the cervical spine at Clay County Medical Center in Clay Center, KS, the cash price is $150.00, which matches the facility's listed cash median. While the Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, indicating that the cash rate is 69% higher than the federal baseline, commercial insurance negotiated rates vary significantly by payer. In-network rates range from $11 to $263 across five payers, with the lowest negotiated amount being $22.00. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the full cash price of $150.00 upfront may result in lower out-of-pocket costs than using insurance, as the insurer's negotiated rate often exceeds the cash price before deductibles are applied.
The facility, a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, reports a facility rating of 3. Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, unexpected charges can still occur for ancillary services. To minimize costs, consumers are encouraged to request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within 30 days. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a detailed, itemized statement to verify that all charges correspond to services actually rendered and to identify any unbundled codes or services not delivered.