X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: William Newton Hospital
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $121
- Cash Discount Price: $252
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.36x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Triwest- All Plans | $88 | 99% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $91 - $252 | 102% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $91 - $227 | 102% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $91 - $152 | 102% |
| Providrs Care Nexus | $154 | 173% |
| Providrs Care - All Other Plans | $176 | 198% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the neck (cervical spine) at William Newton Hospital in Winfield, KS, the cash price is $252.00, which matches the facility's cash median. This rate is 40% higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, reflecting a markup common in commercial billing where negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of the federal baseline. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government ownership, patients should note that commercial negotiated rates for this service range from $91 to $252 depending on the insurance plan, with the lowest allowed amount being $91.00. Because the cash price is lower than the highest negotiated rates found in the data, paying out-of-pocket may result in lower out-of-pocket costs for patients with high-deductible plans, provided they secure a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before the visit.
To ensure you are receiving the best possible rate, it is important to verify your specific insurance plan's allowed amount, as these vary significantly across payers like Triwest and UnitedHealthcare. Before scheduling, you should explicitly ask the hospital to classify your visit as "self-pay" or "cash" to access potential prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees. If you do use insurance, be aware that the facility may submit a claim to your insurer regardless of your payment method, which could void any cash discount; therefore, requesting a waiver of insurance submission at registration is a critical step. Finally, if you receive a bill, always request a full itemized statement to review every CPT