MRI, lower back (no contrast)
Facility: Watsonville Community Hospital
Billing Code: 72148 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 72148
- Insurance Median: $3,800
- Cash Discount Price: $7,131
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 15.59x 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 1559% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1459%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance/Sccho | $247 | 101% |
| Medi-Cal E.R. | $267 | 110% |
| California Childrens Srvs | $267 | 110% |
| Healthy Families | $267 | 110% |
| Ccs/Monterey County | $267 | 110% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $267 | 110% |
| Medi-Cal/Eds | $267 | 110% |
| Well Path | $267 - $11,885 | 110% |
| Pacificare HMO | $504 - $3,100 | 207% |
| Blue Shield HMO | $504 - $2,377 | 207% |
| Health Net Pmg HMO | $504 - $7,452 | 207% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $504 - $6,507 | 207% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $504 - $3,100 | 207% |
| Secure Horizons Dign HMO | $504 - $2,377 | 207% |
| Cigna | $504 - $8,320 | 207% |
| Great-West/Phcs | $504 - $8,320 | 207% |
| Aetna | $504 - $6,565 | 207% |
| Health Net Smartcare Netw | $1,525 - $3,100 | 626% |
| Pacificare PPO | $1,525 - $3,100 | 626% |
| Victim Compensation Plan | $2,139 - $11,885 | 877% |
| Medicruz | $2,139 | 877% |
| Sheet Metal Workers | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Laborers Health & Welfare | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Robert Kennedy/Ccn | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Pinnacle Claims Tpa/Bc | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Teamsters Benefit Trust | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| State Compensation Fund | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| City of Wats/Pinnacle Clm | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Calif Ironworkers Field | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Carpenters H&W Trust | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Claims Management Wc | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Delta Health Systems | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Western Growers Trust/Bc | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Operating Engineers | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| Monterey Bay Pub Emp Trst | $2,342 - $6,507 | 961% |
| First Health | $3,200 - $9,508 | 1313% |
| Adventist Risk Management | $3,200 - $9,508 | 1313% |
| Geha (Ccn) | $3,200 - $9,508 | 1313% |
| Transwestern | $3,200 - $9,508 | 1313% |
| Western Health Advantage | $5,943 | 2438% |
| Self Pay | $7,131 | 2925% |
| Health Net Canopycare HMO | $7,452 | 3057% |
| Health Net of California | $7,452 | 3057% |
| Health Net Blue and Gold | $7,452 | 3057% |
| Private Healthcare System | $9,271 | 3803% |
| Multiplan Inc PPO | $9,271 | 3803% |
| Coastal Healthcare Admin | $10,102 - $10,697 | 4144% |
| Salinas Valley Mem Hops | $10,102 | 4144% |
| Travelers Insurance | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Bankers Life & Casualty | $11,885 | 4875% |
| North Calif Bakery Driver | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Humana | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Aarp | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Apwu Health Plan | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Allstate | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Wholesale Beer Distributo | $11,885 | 4875% |
| United Administrative | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Miscellaneous Insurance | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Miscellaneous Auto | $11,885 | 4875% |
| State Farm Ins | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Farmers Insurance | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Sutter Health Plus | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Aaa | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Prucare Pmg HMO | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Zenith National Ins | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Physicians Mutual | $11,885 | 4875% |
| Prucare Pmg POS | $11,885 | 4875% |