CPT 72110 is a set of at least four X-ray images of the lumbar and sacral spine, taken from different angles. It is a common first test for lower-back pain after an injury, and for checking alignment and arthritis. It takes about 15 minutes.
What the price covers
The hospital's price is the technical fee for the X-ray room and technologist. The radiologist's reading is billed separately. Fewer views (72100, two or three views) is a cheaper code; ask which one your doctor ordered.
Why prices vary
Plain X-rays are inexpensive to perform, and the listed hospital prices reflect chargemaster policy more than cost: the same four views can list at $80 in one hospital and $800 in another. Physician offices and urgent-care clinics with their own X-ray equipment are often much cheaper than hospitals.
Questions to ask
- Is this the price for 72110, and does it include the radiologist reading?
- Would two or three views (72100) answer my doctor's question?
- Can I have the X-ray done at an outpatient location or clinic instead?