CMS Price Transparency Data

CT scan, lower back (lumbar spine)

Facility: Jfk University Medical Center

Billing Code: 72131 (CPT)

The BaseRate · fair price high confidence

A fair price for this

$195

about 1.8× the $107 Medicare rate · typically $132–$252

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

What this hospital charges insurers

$118

Below the fair price — a good deal

about $77 under the fair price · 1.1× Medicare

Medicare pays $107 Fair price $195 This hospital $118 Cash price $112 Hospital's list price $2,310

How we calculate the fair BaseRate →

How this hospital compares to other NJ hospitals

Lowest price of the 9 NJ hospitals we have prices for — a strong deal.

Cheapest $118 Priciest $147

Black dot = this hospital, among the 9 NJ hospitals with a price for this procedure. Full list below.

A fair price for a CT scan, lower back (lumbar spine) is about $195 (about 1.8× the $107 Medicare rate). Jfk University Medical Center charges insurers about $118, or about $112 in cash — below the fair price — a good deal. Located in Edison, NJ.

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	$112 - $397	105%
Blue Cross Blue Shieldmajor	$118	110%
Aetnamajor	$106 - $1,940	99%
Cignamajor	$263	246%
Amerigroup	$106 - $118	99%
AmeriHealth	$493 - $545	462%
Clover Health	$416	389%
WellCare	$106 - $118	99%
+ 9 smaller / regional plans	$86 - $2,147

Government programs also on file: Military & VA.

Excludes 2 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 112), 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: 72131.

Insurance Before you use insurance

Call your insurance company to confirm Jfk University Medical Center is in-network.
Ask your insurer whether prior approval is required for CPT code 72131.
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 Jfk University Medical Center

Compare: CT scan, lower back (lumbar spine) at other NJ hospitals

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