X-ray, hip
Facility: Ellinwood District Hospital
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $70
- Cash Discount Price: $85
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.79x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $70 | 79% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $70 | 79% |
| Humana | $70 | 79% |
| Cigna | $70 | 79% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $70 | 79% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the hip (CPT 73502) at Ellinwood District Hospital in Ellinwood, Kansas, the facility's cash median rate is $85.00, while the negotiated rate paid by major insurers like Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare is $70.00. In this specific case, paying cash directly is more expensive than the insurance negotiated rate, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by using their insurance coverage rather than paying out-of-pocket. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, the cash price exceeds the commercial negotiated price, which is a common dynamic where administrative costs and contract structures make insurance payments higher than direct cash payments for certain services.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing fairness. The facility's cash rate of $85.00 is slightly below the Medicare amount, whereas the negotiated rate of $70.00 is lower than both the cash and Medicare benchmarks. Patients should be aware that hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual charges, so requesting a full itemized CPT-coded statement is essential to identify any errors or unbundled codes before paying. Additionally, if a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility, the No Surprises Act protects them from balance billing for emergency and non-emergency services, and they should never sign away their rights to dispute such bills without first verifying the legality of the charge.