MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Wesley Medical Center
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $5,820
- Cash Discount Price: $26,216
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 23.87x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 2387% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 2287%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
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 | $131 | 54% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $135 | 55% |
| Aetna | $136 - $12,479 | 56% |
| Amerigroup | $136 | 56% |
| First Health | $263 - $16,114 | 108% |
| Multiplan | $274 - $31,459 | 112% |
| United | $518 - $15,729 | 212% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $531 | 218% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $3,024 - $17,477 | 1241% |
| Wppa | $3,041 - $6,082 | 1247% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $3,146 - $6,292 | 1291% |
| Preferred Health Choices | $3,303 - $6,606 | 1355% |
| Medical Associates Health Plan | $3,303 - $6,606 | 1355% |
| Spirit Aerosystems | $5,593 - $11,185 | 2294% |
| Triwest Healthcare Alliance | $11,360 - $22,720 | 4660% |
| Usa Managed Care | $14,855 - $29,711 | 6094% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For an MRI of the knee or other leg joint at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, the cash payment rate of $26,216 is significantly higher than the state average for this procedure, which is $243.77. While the facility's gross charge matches the cash rate, the median negotiated rate for in-network insurance plans is $5,820, representing a substantial difference from the cash price. The Medicare benchmark for this service is $243.77, which serves as the objective baseline against which commercial rates are typically marked up.
Patients should be aware that cash-pay options can sometimes be more economical if their specific insurance plan has a negotiated rate that exceeds the cash price, though in this case, the cash rate is the highest available figure. It is critical to verify "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts with the hospital before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% and bypass costly administrative claim processing. Additionally, under the No Surprises Act, patients are protected from balance billing for emergency care or non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at this in-network facility, ensuring they are not charged for the difference between the provider's full chargemaster rate and the insurance allowed amount.