MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital, Llc
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $473
- Cash Discount Price: $817
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.94x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $214 - $473 | 88% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $219 - $531 | 90% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $219 - $584 | 90% |
| Aetna | $219 - $603 | 90% |
| United Mine Workers Of America | $219 - $483 | 90% |
| Providrs Care Network | $219 - $483 | 90% |
| Lantern Specialty Care | $350 - $772 | 144% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of a knee or other leg joint at Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital, Llc in Wichita, KS, the facility's cash median price is $817.00, which is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by major insurers like Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare. While the facility's negotiated rate of $473.00 represents a discount from the gross charge of $1,257.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more affordable if their insurance allowed amount exceeds $817.00. It is important to note that commercial rates often include administrative overhead for claims processing, whereas cash payments bypass this cycle, potentially offering immediate savings for those who can pay upfront.
When evaluating the cost against broader benchmarks, the facility's cash price of $817.00 is notably higher than the Medicare amount of $243.77 for this procedure, reflecting a markup common in the acute care hospital sector. However, the median negotiated rate of $473.00 aligns closely with the lowest negotiated rates observed across Kansas payers, suggesting the facility is competitive within its network tier. Patients should verify their specific plan details before scheduling, as paying the full cash price without checking for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts could result in unnecessary costs, and they should request an itemized bill to ensure no unbundled charges or errors are included in the final statement.