X-ray, hip
Facility: F W Huston Medical Center
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $253
- Cash Discount Price: $262
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.85x 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 285% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 185%). 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 | $173 | 195% |
| Aetna | $246 | 277% |
| Humana | $259 | 291% |
| Cigna | $279 | 314% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the hip at F W Huston Medical Center in Winchester, KS, the facility's cash median rate of $262.00 is notably lower than the negotiated rates paid by major insurers, which range from $173 for Blue Cross Blue Shield to $279 for Cigna. While the facility's cash price is higher than the state average for this service, it remains significantly below the gross charge of $328.00 and the Medicare benchmark of $88.91. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price upfront can be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that the facility, a voluntary non-profit Critical Access Hospital, offers a prompt-pay discount that can further reduce the final balance if settled in full within 30 days.
Patients should be aware that while the facility is in-network for the listed payers, the actual amount paid by insurance ($259.00 median) may still result in a balance bill if the patient's deductible has not been met. To avoid unexpected costs, consumers should request a self-pay classification and a prompt-pay discount before scheduling the appointment, rather than waiting until after receiving a claim. Additionally, if a surprise bill arises, the No Surprises Act provides federal protections against balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities. We recommend requesting a full itemized bill to verify all charges and disputing any errors in writing to ensure you are only paying for services rendered at the correct rates.