MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Essentia Health Sandstone
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $1,940
- Cash Discount Price: $2,093
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.96x 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 $243.77 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 796% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 696%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Primewest | $236 | 97% |
| Itasca Med Care | $242 | 99% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,087 - $2,274 | 446% |
| Blue Plus Pmap Pcc Prime | $1,087 - $1,558 | 446% |
| Medica Access | $1,127 - $1,764 | 462% |
| Healthpartners Care Pmap | $1,138 | 467% |
| Sanford Healthplan | $1,215 - $1,279 | 498% |
| Advocare/Security Health | $1,331 | 546% |
| Freedom Blue Ppo | $1,331 | 546% |
| Healthpartners Care Msho / Mcr Adv | $1,331 | 546% |
| Imcare Msho Pcc Prime | $1,331 | 546% |
| Imcare Msho Ref Req | $1,331 | 546% |
| Medica Advantage Solutions | $1,331 | 546% |
| Medica Msho/Dual Solutions | $1,331 | 546% |
| Medica Prime Solution Group | $1,331 | 546% |
| Medicare (plans) | $1,331 | 546% |
| Nd Va Administration | $1,331 | 546% |
| Platinum Blue/Vantage Blue | $1,331 | 546% |
| Primewest Msho | $1,331 | 546% |
| Secure Blue Msho | $1,331 | 546% |
| Ubh Cost Plan | $1,331 | 546% |
| Ubh Msho | $1,331 | 546% |
| Ucare Msho | $1,331 | 546% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,331 - $2,578 | 546% |
| Ucare | $1,863 | 764% |
| Healthpartners | $1,914 - $2,257 | 785% |
| Medica | $2,025 - $2,251 | 831% |
| Medica Uplan | $2,025 | 831% |
| Wea | $2,039 - $2,181 | 836% |
| America'S Ppo | $2,195 | 900% |
| Cigna | $2,209 - $2,257 | 906% |
| Healthpartners Pcc Prime | $2,209 - $2,257 | 906% |
| Medica Choice | $2,319 | 951% |
| Wps | $2,351 - $2,379 | 964% |
| Aetna | $2,407 | 987% |
| Security Health | $2,832 | 1162% |