CMS Price Transparency Data

MRI, lower back (no contrast)

Facility: Highlands Cashiers Hospital

Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)

No verified fair price for this procedure here

This hospital only published government or network rates for this billing code — not a standard commercial price — so we can’t show a verified fair-price comparison for it. What it charges each insurer is listed below; call the hospital’s billing office to confirm the actual charge.

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What each insurance company pays

Which insurers have negotiated a price with this hospital for this procedure — and which haven’t.

4 of 6 major insurers have a published price at this hospital

✓ UnitedHealthcare✓ Blue Cross Blue Shield✓ Aetna✓ Cigna HumanaKaiser Permanente

Crossed out = this hospital hasn’t published a negotiated price for that insurer for this procedure. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t accepted — ask your insurer.

Insurance company	Price range	vs. Medicare
UnitedHealthcaremajor	$2,042 - $3,583	838%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$2,012 - $2,129	825%
Aetnamajor	$2,838 - $4,299	1164%
Cignamajor	$1,940 - $2,625	796%
AmeriHealth	$2,093 - $2,247	859%
CareSource	$2,602	1067%
WellCare	$2,073	850%
+ 6 smaller / regional plans	$1,183 - $5,026

Excludes 3 rental-network / third-party entries (e.g. Multiplan, PHCS) — these are pricing networks, not insurers.

Self-Pay How to get the cash price

Tell the billing desk you want to be billed as self-pay — not through insurance — before your visit.
Ask for the cash / prompt-pay discount in writing, with the exact price (about 5,913), before you agree to anything.
Get it in writing that they won’t also bill your insurance, so the cash price is what you owe.
Check the CPT code on your bill matches exactly: 72148.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm Highlands Cashiers Hospital is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for CPT code 72148.
Confirm the doctor or provider is in-network too — not just the hospital building.
Check your Explanation of Benefits against the hospital’s final itemized bill.

Estimate your out-of-pocket cost

A rough estimate of what you’d pay with insurance (deductible + coinsurance) versus paying the cash price yourself.

How you’d pay

Deductible left to meet ($)

Your coinsurance (%)

Enter your details and press estimate to compare.

Other Procedures at Highlands Cashiers Hospital

Compare: MRI, lower back (no contrast) at other NC hospitals

Insurance negotiated median for the same procedure, sorted lowest first.