X-ray, ankle
Facility: Wesley Medical Center
Billing Code: 73610 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73610
- Insurance Median: $655
- Cash Discount Price: $2,952
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.37x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 737% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 637%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| First Health | $35 - $1,814 | 39% |
| Multiplan | $37 - $3,542 | 42% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $49 | 55% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $50 | 56% |
| Amerigroup | $51 | 57% |
| Aetna | $51 - $1,405 | 57% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $160 | 180% |
| United | $182 - $1,771 | 205% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $340 - $1,968 | 382% |
| Wppa | $342 - $685 | 385% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $354 - $708 | 398% |
| Preferred Health Choices | $372 - $744 | 418% |
| Medical Associates Health Plan | $372 - $744 | 418% |
| Spirit Aerosystems | $630 - $1,259 | 709% |
| Triwest Healthcare Alliance | $1,279 - $2,558 | 1439% |
| Usa Managed Care | $1,673 - $3,345 | 1882% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this X-ray of the ankle at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS, the cash price is $2,952, which matches the facility's cash median. While the facility's negotiated rates vary significantly by insurer—ranging from $35 to $3,542 depending on the plan—the cash price often represents the most transparent baseline for patients. It is important to note that cash payments can sometimes be cheaper than insurance claims for those with high-deductible plans, as the negotiated rate paid by an insurer may exceed the cash price. Additionally, patients should verify if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing costs.
When evaluating the cost, it is crucial to compare rates against objective benchmarks rather than the hospital's full chargemaster list. The Medicare amount for this service is $88.91, and the facility's cash rate is 7.4 times higher than this federal baseline, which is consistent with commercial pricing structures that include administrative overhead. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a detailed, itemized statement to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered before agreeing to payment. If a balance bill arises from an out-of-network provider, the No Surprises Act may protect patients from paying the difference, so disputing unexpected charges with the insurer is a recommended first step.