X-ray, hip
Facility: Stormont Vail Hospital
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $79
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.89x 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 $88.91 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $50 - $75 | 56% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $50 - $75 | 56% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $50 - $682 | 56% |
| Humana | $79 - $81 | 89% |
| Aetna | $79 - $81 | 89% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 73502 (X-ray, hip) at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS, the facility's median negotiated rate of $79.00 is significantly lower than the gross charge of $627.00, reflecting standard commercial contract dynamics. While the facility's negotiated rate aligns closely with the state average range of $79.00 to $81.00, it is notably higher than the national average of $50.00 to $75.00. For patients with high-deductible plans, this structure suggests that paying the cash price might be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate without meeting the deductible can result in substantial out-of-pocket expenses.
To ensure you are receiving the most accurate pricing, it is critical to request an itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. If you choose to pay cash or self-pay, ask the hospital directly about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50% by bypassing the costly insurance claims process. Additionally, while the Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, indicating a fair pricing range of 120% to 150% of that amount, commercial rates vary widely by payer; for instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans show a much wider range ($50 to $682