X-ray, neck (cervical spine)
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital Inc
Billing Code: 72040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72040
- Insurance Median: $82
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.92x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $33 - $103 | 37% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $68 | 76% |
| Vc Hope | $81 | 91% |
| Humana | $81 | 91% |
| Medicare (plans) | $81 - $83 | 91% |
| Va | $81 | 91% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $83 | 93% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $83 - $228 | 93% |
| Smarthealth | $114 | 128% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $138 | 155% |
| Cigna | $168 | 189% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the cervical spine at Ascension Via Christi Rehabilitation Hospital Inc in Wichita, Kansas, the facility's negotiated rates range from $33 to $228, with a median negotiated amount of $82.00. This facility is a Part A provider and does not appear to have a specific cash or median paid rate listed in the current data. While commercial insurance contracts often result in higher costs due to administrative processing fees, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying cash directly is more cost-effective if the facility's cash price is lower than the insurance negotiated rate. It is always advisable to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can significantly lower the final bill by bypassing costly insurance billing cycles.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care. Commercial negotiated rates can sometimes exceed this benchmark, reflecting the administrative overhead and contract dynamics between insurers and providers. For context, the state of Kansas has a county average for this procedure, though the specific county average figure is not provided in the current dataset. Regardless of the payer, patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act. If a patient receives a bill that seems unexpectedly high, they should request a formal, itemized CPT-coded audit to identify any errors, double-billing, or unbundled charges before agreeing to pay the full amount.