MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: University Of Ks Hlth System Great Bend Campus
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $1,619
- Cash Discount Price: $810
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.64x 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 664% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 564%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ku Athletics [503200094] | $223 | 91% |
| Workers Comp [503999901] | $223 | 91% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $223 | 91% |
| Medicare (plans) | $227 | 93% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $229 | 94% |
| Allwell [503200078] | $229 | 94% |
| Humana | $235 | 96% |
| Tricare | $235 | 96% |
| Triwest [503201703] | $235 | 96% |
| Centurion [5032000966] | $290 | 119% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $323 | 133% |
| Occunet [503999930] | $468 | 192% |
| Fort Hays State Student Athletes [5032000960] | $468 | 192% |
| 6 Degrees Health [503999050] | $557 | 228% |
| Advanced Medical Pricing Solutions [503301513] | $705 | 289% |
| Wppa [503200056] | $1,134 - $2,267 | 465% |
| Alt Wppa [5032000964] | $1,134 - $2,267 | 465% |
| Meritain Health [503200039] | $1,134 - $3,239 | 465% |
| Alt Carelon Behavioral Health [503200905] | $1,350 - $2,699 | 554% |
| First Health [5032000110] | $1,619 - $3,239 | 664% |
| Php [503200005] | $1,619 - $3,239 | 664% |
| Aetna | $1,619 - $3,239 | 664% |
| Allied National [503999937] | $1,619 - $3,239 | 664% |
| Aha-Healthcare Preferred [503200050] | $1,619 - $3,239 | 664% |
| National Assn Letter Carriers [503200019] | $1,619 - $3,239 | 664% |
| Alt Meritain Health [503999911] | $1,619 - $3,239 | 664% |
| Cigna | $1,619 - $4,318 | 664% |
| Correct Care Solutions [50311253] | $1,889 - $3,779 | 775% |
| Usa Managed Care [503999030] | $2,429 - $4,858 | 996% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For CPT code 73721 (MRI of the knee or other leg joint) at the University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus, the facility's cash median rate of $810.00 is significantly lower than the gross charge of $4,049.00. While the facility's negotiated rates range from $223 to $4,858 depending on the payer, the cash price offers a substantial alternative for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, as it bypasses administrative overhead and insurance markup. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to multi-layered administrative structures; for instance, the median negotiated rate of $1,619.00 is nearly double the cash median. Patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as some in-network contracts may result in higher out-of-pocket costs than paying cash upfront.
When evaluating the financial impact of this service, it is helpful to compare the facility's pricing against the Medicare benchmark, which serves as the objective baseline for healthcare costs. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $243.77, and the facility's cash rate of $810.00 represents a 6.6x markup relative to this federal standard. While commercial rates typically average 200% to 300% of Medicare, the cash option here remains a cost-effective choice for self-pay patients. To maximize savings, consumers should proactively request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts from the billing department before check-in, as these incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by eliminating the