X-ray, pelvis
Facility: Smith County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 72170 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72170
- Insurance Median: $182
- Cash Discount Price: $194
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.70x 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 $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.
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 | $125 | 117% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $136 - $194 | 127% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $175 | 164% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $182 | 170% |
| Health Partners Of Ks Ppo-All Plans | $184 | 172% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $184 | 172% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $184 | 172% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the pelvis at Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, Kansas, the cash price is $194.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rate for Medicaid and the median amount paid by other payers. While the Medicare benchmark for this service is $106.81, indicating a standard commercial markup, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the full cash price of $194.00 more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates for in-network plans range from $125 to $194.00. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should explicitly ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing costly insurance claims processing.
If you choose to use insurance, be aware that the allowed amounts vary significantly by payer, with Blue Cross Blue Shield covering $125.00 and Medicaid plans ranging up to $194.00. Should you receive a bill that exceeds these negotiated amounts, it could be due to balance billing from out-of-network ancillary services, though the No Surprises Act protects you from such charges for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a full itemized bill that lists every specific CPT code and unit cost, rather than accepting a summary invoice that obscures individual charges. If discrepancies are found, such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, you should dispute the error in writing to the billing