June 7, 2018
Have you referred patients for computed tomography (CT) scans of the lower back? In Washington State, the allowable cost of this procedure can range from around $400 to nearly $4,000.
We looked at cost data for a CT scan of the lower back, without contrast dye. Below are the average total costs for these diagnostic procedures, based on allowed amounts, as described at the close of the article. Patients’ out-of-pocket costs may be less. Since this procedure is less common, we have claims data for smaller sets of providers in Bremerton, Silverdale, Olympia, and Longview.
| Region |
Minimum |
Average |
Maximum |
| Seattle Tacoma Bellevue |
$411 |
$795 |
$3,882 |
| Bremerton Silverdale |
$388 |
$388 |
$388 |
| Olympia and Longview |
$441 |
$441 |
$441 |
| North Puget Sound* |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Spokane |
$474 |
$492 |
$507 |
| Eastern Washington** |
$420 |
$490 |
$604 |
*North Puget Sound includes Bellingham, Mount Vernon, and Anacortes.
**Eastern Washington includes Kennewick-Pasco-Richland, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, and Yakima.
What can you do?
As we partner with our providers to make healthcare work better, our goal is to ensure that our members receive the right service at a fair price. Ask your administrator if your practice refers patients to a cost-effective provider of imaging services. You can also use the AIM OptiNet® Tool to guide your patients to high-value, lower-cost imaging facilities. Visit AIM’s ProviderPortal to enroll.
Care costs vary greatly across Washington State, depending on location and the provider organization. In this series of articles, we’ll show care costs based on approximately 105,000 claims in Washington. The data reflects a year’s worth of claims from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. The costs shown are allowed amounts paid by Premera and our members for care, based on contracts between Premera and healthcare providers. Costs are rounded to the nearest dollar.