X-ray, hand
Facility: F W Huston Medical Center
Billing Code: 73130 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73130
- Insurance Median: $254
- Cash Discount Price: $264
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.86x 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 286% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 186%). 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 | $137 | 154% |
| Aetna | $248 | 279% |
| Humana | $261 | 294% |
| Cigna | $280 | 315% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this X-ray of the hand at F W Huston Medical Center in Winchester, KS, the facility's cash price of $264 is notably lower than the average negotiated rates paid by major insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield ($137), Aetna ($248), and Humana ($261). While the cash rate is higher than the facility's own median negotiated rate of $254, it remains significantly below the gross chargemaster price of $330. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the $264 cash price more advantageous than relying on insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount often exceeds the cash rate, potentially leading to balance billing if the patient is out-of-network. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency care at in-network facilities, patients should still verify their specific plan status and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against the federal Medicare rate of $88.91, which serves as a reliable baseline for evaluating commercial pricing markups. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this CPT code, the facility's cash rate of $264 represents a reasonable alternative to the higher administrative costs embedded in insurance billing. To ensure you are not overcharged, we recommend requesting a full itemized bill that lists every CPT code and unit cost, as summary bills often obscure unbundled charges or services not rendered. If you receive a bill that seems inconsistent with the $264 cash rate or the insurer's allowed amount, you should dispute any balance billing immediately in