Virginia Mason Medical Center

SeattleKing CountyAcute Care Hospitals

Neck spine X-ray (2-3 views)

Quality: 5 of 5 (CMS overall rating)Earliest available date: call (206) 223-6600

What you may pay

With insurance from an employer or private plan
$1.15 – $357At least one plan lists 3 separate amounts for this procedure. They may be parts of one bill that you pay together (for example the hospital’s fee and the fee of the doctor who reads a scan) or alternatives (inpatient or outpatient). We don’t show one price or compare it until we can tell which; every line is listed below. Ask the hospital which lines apply to you.
Paying yourself (cash price)
$227 TypicalTypical hospital’s fee at 35 hospitals we cover: $211 to $381.

These are prices the hospital published, not a quote. With insurance you usually pay part of the rate (your deductible and coinsurance); the estimator on the procedure page works it out. A higher price does not mean better care.

Doctors usually bill separately. At most hospitals these are the hospital’s own charges. The surgeon, radiologist, anesthesiologist or pathologist usually sends a separate bill: ask each of them for an estimate too.

Source: Virginia Mason Medical Center’s own price file. CareNavIQ last refreshed prices on 2026-11-05.

Next step: ask the hospital for a Good Faith Estimate for this procedure (phone number above).

Bills to expect

A procedure usually brings several bills, each from whoever did that part of your care. Here is what to expect, with what Traditional Medicare allows for each doctor’s part in this area (King County) and an estimate for private plans.

Separate bills for this procedure and their estimated amounts
BillWho sends itHow likelyStatusTraditional Medicare allowsPrivate plans (estimate)
Hospital's feeThe X-ray: equipment and technologistThe hospitalExpectedPublished by the hospital: the prices above——
RadiologistReading the X-ray and writing the reportThe radiology groupExpectedBilled separately; amount estimated$11$13 to $20
Ordering doctor's visitThe visit where the X-ray is ordered or the results are explainedYour doctorPossibleBilled separately; not priced——

What you’d pay for these bills

Adds up your share of the hospital’s bill and the expected doctors’ bills above (not the possible ones). What you type stays in your browser.

Your coverage

Your plan’s summary of benefits says how it charges for each kind of care. Leave these as they are if it uses the deductible and coinsurance.

The hospital's bill
The bill from the doctor doing the procedure

Enter your plan’s rate for the hospital’s bill to see your share.

Who owes what, and when you might owe more
  • The insurance adjustment Written off

    An in-network provider agrees to accept your plan's allowed amount. The difference between its charge and that amount is written off: you don't owe it, and it shouldn't appear on your bill.

  • Deductible You pay

    What you pay each year before your plan starts sharing costs. It is applied to bills in the order your plan processes them, so the first bill can take all of it.

  • Copay You pay

    A fixed amount for a kind of care, such as a hospital stay or a surgeon's visit. Your plan's summary of benefits says whether it applies before or after the deductible, and whether a stay's copay is per day.

  • Coinsurance You pay

    Your percentage of the allowed amount after the deductible, such as 20%.

  • Out-of-pocket maximum Your plan pays

    Once your deductible, copays and coinsurance for the year reach it, your plan pays 100% of covered in-network care for the rest of the plan year.

  • Each provider bills separately You pay

    The hospital, surgeon, anesthesia group, radiologist and pathologist each send their own claim and their own bill. All of them count toward the same deductible and yearly maximum.

  • Out of network and surprise bills It depends

    A provider outside your plan's network can bill you the difference between its charge and what your plan pays (a balance bill). It can't for emergency care, or when anesthesia, radiology, pathology, an assistant surgeon or a hospital doctor treats you at an in-network hospital: under federal law (the No Surprises Act) and, for Washington-regulated plans and self-funded plans that opt in, RCW 48.49, those groups cannot balance bill you. Your deductible and coinsurance still apply, at in-network amounts.

  • Not covered, or no prior authorization It depends

    If your plan decides a service isn't covered, or it needed prior authorization that wasn't approved, the plan pays nothing for it and the provider may bill you. Ask the provider to get prior authorization before your care. If an in-network provider didn't get it, the provider's contract may stop it billing you: ask your plan before you pay.

  • A second insurance It depends

    If you have a second plan, the first plan pays first and the second may then pay some or all of your share. These estimates use one plan only.

  • Wait for the Explanation of Benefits You pay

    After each claim your insurer sends an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) with the allowed amount, what it paid and what you may owe. It is not a bill. Pay a provider's bill only when it matches the EOB's “you may owe” amount, and ask the provider or insurer about any difference.

  • Help from the hospital It depends

    Washington hospitals must give free or discounted care based on income, including deductibles and coinsurance for insured patients: free up to 200% or 300% of the federal poverty level depending on the hospital, with discounts above that (RCW 70.170). You can apply after you get a bill. It covers the hospital's bill; doctor groups that bill separately have their own policies.

  • If you pay yourself instead You pay

    You can choose not to use your insurance and pay the cash price; then nothing counts toward your deductible. Ask each provider for a Good Faith Estimate. If a bill is $400 or more above it, you can dispute it within 120 days.

Get it confirmed before your care

The hospital, each doctor’s group and your insurer can each confirm their part in writing. Here is a request for each one, ready to send from your own email, and what to say if you’d rather call. Nothing you do here is saved.

Coming: CareNavIQ will be able to send these for you, follow up, and tell you when everything is confirmed, with your permission.

How you’ll pay

Virginia Mason Medical Center

The largest bill.

Request to send

Subject: Estimate request: neck spine x-ray (2-3 views) at Virginia Mason Medical Center

Hello,

I am planning a neck spine x-ray (2-3 views) (billing code CPT 72040) at Virginia Mason Medical Center.

Under Washington law (RCW 70.01.030), I am asking for a written estimate of the hospital's charges, with the billing codes you plan to use.

Name: [YOUR NAME]
Date of birth: [DATE OF BIRTH]
Insurance: [PLAN NAME], member ID [MEMBER ID]
Planned date: [DATE, IF KNOWN]

Thank you.

Replace the words in [brackets] with your details before you send it.

Open in my email

If you call. Call (206) 223-6600 and ask for the price estimate or patient financial services line. Say: "I'd like a written estimate for my neck spine x-ray (2-3 views)."

0 of 3 sent. Washington law gives you the right to these estimates but sets no deadline: if you haven't heard back in five business days, send it again or call.

How these are worked out. Medicare amounts are CMS’s 2026 physician fee schedule for this area, at the rate for care in a hospital. Private-plan estimates are 118% to 179% of Medicare for doctors (the range across 19 studies in KFF’s review of what private insurers pay) and 3 to 5 times Medicare for anesthesia (a published industry estimate). Anesthesia is paid by the minute, so its range assumes the time shown. Medicare pays an assistant at surgery 13.6% to 16% of the surgeon’s fee. Where we have your insurer’s own published rates for the doctors here (below), the estimator uses those for that insurer’s employer plans instead. Your plan’s own rates may be outside these ranges: ask each office for an estimate, and for its network status. At an in-network hospital, the anesthesia, radiology, pathology and assistant groups can’t charge you more than your in-network cost share, even if they are out of network (No Surprises Act).

56 published prices, grouped by who each price applies to.

Cash price 2 prices

The hospital's discounted price for patients paying without insurance.

Cash price prices for Neck spine X-ray (2-3 views) at Virginia Mason Medical Center
PricePart of the billHospital’s descriptionHow it’s setSettingSource date
$227Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSS—Inpatient—
$227Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSS—Outpatient—

List price (before discounts) 2 prices

The hospital's full chargemaster price. Few patients pay this amount.

List price (before discounts) prices for Neck spine X-ray (2-3 views) at Virginia Mason Medical Center
PricePart of the billHospital’s descriptionHow it’s setSettingSource date
$446Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSS—Inpatient—
$446Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSS—Outpatient—

Commercial insurance 29 prices

Rate negotiated with a private insurer or employer plan, including exchange and public-option plans.

Prices marked “below Medicare” are less than Traditional Medicare pays this hospital for the same code. They may be one line of a bigger bill or a mistake in the hospital’s file: ask the plan for its rate.

Commercial insurance prices for Neck spine X-ray (2-3 views) at Virginia Mason Medical Center
PayerPlanPricePart of the billHospital’s descriptionHow it’s setSettingSource date
AetnaCommercial$252Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwfee scheduleOutpatient—
AetnaCommercial$281Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesOutpatient—
CignaCommercial$149Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
CignaCommercial$286Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
CignaCommercial$329Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesOutpatient—
CignaLocal Plus$325Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
CignaLocal Plus$329Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesOutpatient—
Coventry - First HealthCommercial$101Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
Coventry - First HealthCommercial$357Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesOutpatient—
Coventry - First HealthCommercial$357Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesInpatient—
First ChoiceCommercial$1.15Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
First ChoiceCommercial$286Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesInpatient—
First ChoiceCommercial$286Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesOutpatient—
Kaiser Health PlanCommercial$116Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
Kaiser Health PlanCommercial$257Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwfee scheduleOutpatient—
Kaiser Health PlanCommercial$269Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesOutpatient—
PremeraCommercial$88.07Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
PremeraCommercial$268Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesOutpatient—
PremeraCommercial$309Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
RegenceCommercial$98.77Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
RegenceCommercial$283Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
RegenceCommercial$312Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesOutpatient—
RegenceCommercial$312Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesInpatient—
RegenceUniform Medical Plan$74.42Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
RegenceUniform Medical Plan$234Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
RegenceUniform Medical Plan$312Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesInpatient—
RegenceUniform Medical Plan$312Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSpercent of total billed chargesOutpatient—
United HealthcareCommercial$45.01Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
United HealthcareCommercial$324Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—

Medicare Advantage 23 prices

Rate for a private Medicare Advantage plan. Applies only to members of that plan.

Prices marked “below Medicare” are less than Traditional Medicare pays this hospital for the same code (under 80% of it, for Medicare Advantage plans). They may be one line of a bigger bill or a mistake in the hospital’s file: ask the plan for its rate.

Medicare Advantage prices for Neck spine X-ray (2-3 views) at Virginia Mason Medical Center
PayerPlanPricePart of the billHospital’s descriptionHow it’s setSettingSource date
AetnaMedicare Advantage$28.43Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeX-RAY EXAM NECK SPINE 2-3 VWfee scheduleOutpatient—
AetnaMedicare Advantage$823Hospital’s feeX-RAY EXAM NECK SPINE 2-3 VWfee scheduleOutpatient—
AetnaMedicare Advantage HMO$57.69Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeX-RAY EXAM NECK SPINE 2-3 VWfee scheduleOutpatient—
AetnaMedicare Advantage HMO$101Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
AetnaMedicare Advantage PPO$30.24Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeX-RAY EXAM NECK SPINE 2-3 VWfee scheduleOutpatient—
AetnaMedicare Advantage PPO$98.78Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
Confluence HealthMedicare Advantage$316Hospital’s feeX-RAY EXAM NECK SPINE 2-3 VWfee scheduleOutpatient—
HumanaChoiceCare Medicare Advantage$45.46Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
HumanaMedicare Advantage$45.46Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
HumanaMedicare Advantage$95.91Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
Kaiser FoundationHP Medicare$45.46Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
Kaiser FoundationHP Medicare$95.91Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
MultiplanMedicare Advantage$46.79Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeX-RAY EXAM NECK SPINE 2-3 VWfee scheduleOutpatient—
MultiplanMedicare Advantage$67.13Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
Optum Care NetworkMedicare Advantage$45.46Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
Optum Care NetworkMedicare Advantage$95.91Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
PremeraMedicare Advantage HMO/PPO$46.79Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeX-RAY EXAM NECK SPINE 2-3 VWfee scheduleOutpatient—
PremeraMedicare Advantage HMO/PPO$95.91Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
RegenceMedicare Advantage$48.56Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeX-RAY EXAM NECK SPINE 2-3 VWfee scheduleOutpatient—
RegenceMedicare Advantage$81.52Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—
Signal HealthMedicare Advantage$46.79Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeX-RAY EXAM NECK SPINE 2-3 VWfee scheduleOutpatient—
United HealthcareMedicare Advantage$45.46Below Medicare ($101)Hospital’s feeRADIOLOGIC EXAM,SPINE,CERVICAL,THREE VIEWS OR LSSfee scheduleOutpatient—
United HealthcareMedicare Advantage$95.91Hospital’s feeX-ray exam neck spine 2-3 vwcase rateOutpatient—

Doctors here who do this procedure

11 doctors affiliated with Virginia Mason Medical Center billed Traditional Medicare for Neck spine X-ray (2-3 views) in 2024, most Medicare services first. See all doctors and practices, including those with no hospital affiliation.

Doctors affiliated with Virginia Mason Medical Center who billed Traditional Medicare for Neck spine X-ray (2-3 views)
Doctor or practicePracticeMedicare quality scoreTimes billed to Traditional Medicare (2024)Traditional Medicare amount for their own service (2024)
Robert Deconde, MDDiagnostic Radiology · SeattleVirginia Mason Medical CenterGroup of 867 cliniciansNot rated64$11.37 at a hospital or surgery center
Marc Lacrampe, MDDiagnostic Radiology · SeattleVirginia Mason Medical CenterGroup of 867 cliniciansNot rated53$10.98 at a hospital or surgery center
Mitsutomi Ishiyama, MDDiagnostic Radiology · SeattleVirginia Mason Medical CenterGroup of 867 cliniciansNot rated48$11.39 at a hospital or surgery center
Alexander Hsu, DODiagnostic Radiology · SeattleVirginia Mason Medical CenterGroup of 867 cliniciansNot rated44$10.85 at a hospital or surgery center
Christopher Goiney, MDDiagnostic Radiology · SeattleVirginia Mason Medical CenterGroup of 867 cliniciansNot rated42$11.37 at a hospital or surgery center
Joseph Stengel, DODiagnostic Radiology · AberdeenGrays Harbor Community HospitalGroup of 88 clinicians85 of 100CMS MIPS 202436$10.33 at a hospital or surgery center
Thomas Eggert, MDDiagnostic Radiology · SeattleVirginia Mason Medical CenterGroup of 867 cliniciansNot rated26$11.36 at a hospital or surgery center
Ross Hartling, MDDiagnostic Radiology · ArlingtonVirginia Mason Medical CenterGroup of 867 cliniciansNot rated24$11.39 at a hospital or surgery center
Kristine Lineberry, MDDiagnostic Radiology · SilverdaleOlympic Medical Imaging Consultants, PLLCGroup of 18 clinicians79 of 100CMS MIPS 2024, reported by their group23$10.53 in the office (no hospital amount)
Tai Luong, MDDiagnostic Radiology · SilverdaleOlympic Medical Imaging Consultants, PLLCGroup of 18 clinicians79 of 100CMS MIPS 2024, reported by their group15$10.50 at a hospital or surgery center
Douglas Brown, MDDiagnostic Radiology · SilverdaleSmi Imaging LLCGroup of 384 clinicians79 of 100CMS MIPS 2024, reported by their group12$10.56 at a hospital or surgery center

Reading the doctor list

  • A higher price doesn’t mean better care. The quality score and the price come from different CMS files and are shown separately on purpose.
  • The amount is what Traditional Medicare (original Medicare) approved for the doctor’s or lab’s own service: Medicare’s payment plus the patient’s share. It is not what commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage pays, and the hospital or surgery center bills separately (surgery centers aren’t in this list).
  • The Medicare quality score is CMS’s MIPS final score (0 to 100), based mostly on the doctor’s Medicare patients. About half of doctors aren’t scored, so Not rated says nothing bad about a doctor. A group’s score covers everyone in the group.
  • CMS doesn’t publish counts under 11 patients, so doctors who rarely bill Medicare for this aren’t listed, and No price published means CMS has no amount for that setting.
  • Medicare’s file doesn’t say where a doctor did the procedure, only that they billed it in Washington. Affiliations are the hospitals each doctor lists with Medicare.

See a price that looks wrong? Tell us about it.