X-ray, foot

For this X-ray of the foot (CPT 73630), the facility's cash price of $338 is lower than the gross charge of $521, offering a potential savings for patients with high-deductible plans who may not need insurance coverage. While many commercial payers have negotiated rates ranging from $22 to $575, the cash rate is notably lower than the median negotiated amount of $293 reported for this procedure. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate without meeting a deductible can result in significant out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, asking the hospital about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before check-in can further reduce the final bill, as these upfront payment incentives often bypass the administrative overhead associated with insurance claims.

The facility's pricing is benchmarked against Medicare, which sets a baseline rate of $88.91 for this service. Commercial negotiated rates frequently exceed this baseline, with some contracts reaching up to $591, highlighting the importance of comparing allowed amounts rather than just list prices. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, patients should still review their itemized bills carefully. If a bill contains errors, double-billing, or unbundled codes, a formal written audit dispute sent to the billing supervisor is the most effective way to resolve these issues and avoid unexpected charges.