MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $226
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.93x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Va | $224 | 92% |
| Via Christi Research | $224 | 92% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $224 | 92% |
| Vc Hope | $224 | 92% |
| Medicare (plans) | $224 - $228 | 92% |
| Humana | $224 | 92% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $228 | 94% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $228 - $626 | 94% |
| Corizon | $279 | 114% |
| Smarthealth | $313 | 128% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $380 | 156% |
| Cigna | $467 | 192% |
| Aetna | $622 | 255% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $947 | 388% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of a knee or other leg joint at Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc., the facility's negotiated rates range from $224 to $626 depending on the insurance carrier. While the median negotiated rate across all payers is $226, the highest allowed amount is $947 for Coventry City Of Wichita. It is important to note that cash payments are not listed for this service, so patients relying on self-pay must inquire directly with the hospital about potential "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can sometimes reduce the final cost even if the insurance negotiated rate appears higher.
When evaluating the cost, it is helpful to compare these figures against the Medicare benchmark, which serves as the federal baseline for true healthcare delivery costs. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $243.77, and the facility's vs_medicare ratio is 0.9, indicating that the negotiated rates are generally aligned with or slightly below the Medicare benchmark for most payers. This contrasts with the broader context where commercial rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare; however, for this specific code, the facility's pricing structure remains competitive relative to the government-set standard.