MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Grisell Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $764
- Cash Discount Price: $832
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.13x 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 313% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 213%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $495 | 203% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $652 - $876 | 267% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $876 | 359% |
| Humana | $876 | 359% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of a knee or other leg joint at Grisell Memorial Hospital in Ransom, KS, the facility's cash median price is $832.00, which is lower than the gross charge of $876.00. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, patients with high-deductible plans might find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for in-network payers like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield range from $652 to $876. Because commercial insurance contracts often include administrative overheads that inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40%, the cash rate can sometimes represent the truest value for self-pay patients. It is important to verify the specific "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount available at the time of registration, as these upfront incentives can further reduce the final amount owed.
When evaluating this cost against federal standards, the Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $243.77, which serves as the objective baseline for fair pricing. The facility's cash rate of $832.00 is approximately 3.1 times the Medicare amount, reflecting the typical commercial markup structure where negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of the Medicare rate. If you receive a bill from an out-of-network provider or encounter unexpected charges for ancillary services, you may be subject to balance billing, which is the practice of being charged the difference between the provider's full list price and what your insurance allowed. Under the No Surprises Act, balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities is