X-ray, lower back
Facility: Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 72110 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72110
- Insurance Median: $473
- Cash Discount Price: $232
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.43x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 443% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 343%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Centura Employee Plan | $91 | 85% |
| Kansas Health | $185 | 173% |
| Aetna | $185 - $463 | 173% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $185 - $483 | 173% |
| Humana | $185 | 173% |
| Medicare (plans) | $185 | 173% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $331 | 310% |
| Multiplan | $521 - $539 | 488% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $544 | 509% |
| Wppa | $550 | 515% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, lower back procedure (CPT 72110) at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, KS, the facility's cash median rate is $232.00, which is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by most insurance plans. While the hospital's gross charge is $579.00, commercial payers such as Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana have negotiated rates ranging from $185.00 to $483.00, with the median negotiated amount across all payers being $473.00. This data highlights a common billing dynamic where cash-pay options can be substantially cheaper than insurance reimbursement, particularly for patients with high-deductible plans who may face out-of-pocket costs exceeding the cash price. Patients are encouraged to verify if their specific plan has a deductible that has already been met, as paying the cash rate upfront could result in immediate savings compared to the administrative costs and potential deductibles associated with insurance claims.
The facility's pricing is also evaluated against federal benchmarks, with the Medicare amount for this service set at $106.81. The cash rate of $232.00 represents a markup relative to the Medicare baseline, illustrating how commercial pricing structures often differ from the government's cost-based standard. To optimize costs, patients should proactively request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount from the hospital before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill. Additionally, if a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider or encounters unexpected charges, they should review their itemized bill for errors or double-billing, as over