X-ray, lower back
Facility: Aurora Medical Center
Billing Code: 72110 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72110
- Insurance Median: $339
- Cash Discount Price: $515
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.17x 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 317% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 217%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $200 - $851 | 187% |
| Aurora Caregiver | $240 | 225% |
| Quartz One | $245 | 229% |
| Common Ground | $249 | 233% |
| Everpointe Elite | $259 | 242% |
| Healthpartners | $266 - $772 | 249% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $275 - $876 | 257% |
| Quartz Group | $290 | 272% |
| Hs Technology | $293 | 274% |
| Wisconsin Physician Service | $299 - $315 | 280% |
| Molina Exchange | $308 | 288% |
| Centivo | $328 | 307% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $336 - $867 | 315% |
| Health Payment Systems | $400 | 374% |
| Trilogy | $410 | 384% |
| Cigna | $460 - $871 | 431% |
| Health Eos Plus | $618 | 579% |
| Health Eos | $824 | 771% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For patients paying cash directly, the most important takeaway is that the facility's cash median rate of $515 is significantly lower than the typical negotiated rates charged to insurance members, which range from $200 to $876 depending on the plan. While some insurance plans, such as Aurora Caregiver and Quartz One, have a fixed rate of $240 that is lower than the cash price, many other payers like UnitedHealthcare and Cigna charge rates as high as $876, making the upfront cash payment of $515 a potentially more economical option for those with high-deductible plans or no coverage. Patients should proactively ask the hospital staff about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts at the time of scheduling, as these upfront fees can further reduce the cost compared to the standard cash rate.
The broader pricing context reveals that while the cash rate of $515 is competitive, the facility's gross charge of $1,030 represents the maximum billed amount before any discounts are applied. It is worth noting that the facility's cash rate is higher than the Medicare benchmark of $106.81, which serves as a federal cost baseline, yet the negotiated rates vary widely across the 18 different payers listed. For instance, while UnitedHealthcare's range spans from $336 to $867, some plans like Common Ground and Health Eos Plus have a consistent rate of $290 and $618 respectively, all of which exceed the cash price for many. Consumers are encouraged to request an itemized bill to verify that no balance billing occurs for out-of-network ancillary services and to ensure they are