X-ray, ankle
Facility: Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute
Billing Code: 73610 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73610
- Insurance Median: $75
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.84x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $28 - $266 | 31% |
| Cigna | $54 - $208 | 61% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $81 - $191 | 91% |
| Aetna | $81 | 91% |
| Medica | $201 | 226% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, ankle procedure (CPT 73610) at Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute in Leawood, KS, the facility's negotiated rates for major payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna range from $28 to $266, while the median negotiated rate across all five payers is $75.00. These commercial rates are significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, which serves as the federal baseline for the true cost of care. In this specific case, the facility's negotiated rates are approximately 85% of the Medicare amount, indicating a pricing structure that is lower than the typical commercial markup often seen in the industry. However, because the facility is owned by physicians and operates as an acute care hospital, patients should be aware that these negotiated rates may still exceed the cash price for those without insurance.
Patients with high-deductible plans or those who have already met their out-of-pocket maximums may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash price directly, as insurance negotiated rates often include administrative overhead that increases the final cost. Before scheduling, it is critical to request a self-pay or prompt-pay discount, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% for upfront payment. Since billing systems often default to insurance processing once a card is on file, patients must explicitly ask for a waiver of insurance submission and confirm the cash rate prior to check-in to avoid being billed the full negotiated amount. Additionally, if a patient receives a balance bill after insurance payment, they should verify the legality of the charge under the No Surprises Act, as federal protections generally ban balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network