X-ray, shoulder
Facility: Rawlins County Health Center
Billing Code: 73030 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73030
- Insurance Median: $305
- Cash Discount Price: $298
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.43x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 343% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 243%). 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 | $140 | 157% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $304 | 342% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this X-ray of the shoulder at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas, the cash price is $298, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $350. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, the data does not provide a specific county or state average for comparison. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $298 upfront can sometimes be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as commercial negotiated rates for this service range from $140 to $304 depending on the payer. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status and ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Although the facility has negotiated rates with UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield, these amounts often exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. The Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing; the cash rate of $298 represents a significant markup over this federal standard. If you receive a bill from this facility, you should request a detailed, itemized statement to ensure no errors exist, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. If you encounter a balance bill for an out-of-network service at an in-network facility, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency and non-emergency care, allowing you to dispute any unexpected charges rather than paying immediately.