X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $389
- Cash Discount Price: $760
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.38x 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 438% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 338%). 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 | $152 - $160 | 171% |
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $251 | 282% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $251 | 282% |
| Humana | $251 - $342 | 282% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $251 | 282% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $251 - $1,364 | 282% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $389 | 438% |
| Cigna | $418 | 470% |
| Aetna | $418 | 470% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $570 | 641% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $570 | 641% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $593 | 667% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $684 | 769% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the cervical spine at Amberwell Atchison Association, the cash price is $760.00, which matches the facility's cash median. This rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, reflecting a markup common in commercial healthcare where negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of the federal baseline. While the facility's negotiated rates range from $251 to $684 across 13 payers, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the full cash price of $760.00 more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as some commercial negotiated rates exceed the cash amount. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as in-network contracts vary widely and some carriers may pay significantly less than the cash price.
To maximize savings, patients should proactively ask the facility about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% when paid upfront, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure, understanding that Medicare rates represent the scientifically validated cost baseline helps clarify why commercial rates are substantially higher. If you receive a bill, always request a detailed, itemized statement to identify any errors, double-billing, or unbundled codes, as over 80% of hospital bills contain inaccuracies that can be corrected through a formal written dispute.