MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Hamilton County Hospital
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $1,166
- Cash Discount Price: $1,296
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.78x 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 478% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 378%). 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 | $247 - $553 | 101% |
| First Health Coventry - All Plans | $1,102 | 452% |
| Cigna | $1,231 | 505% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,231 | 505% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $1,296 | 532% |
| Aetna | $2,203 | 904% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of a knee or other leg joint at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, KS, the cash price is $1,296.00, which matches the facility's cash median. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the negotiated rates vary significantly among payers; for instance, First Health Coventry and Cigna each have a fixed negotiated rate of $1,102 and $1,231 respectively, whereas Aetna's negotiated rate is $2,203. Because commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and can exceed the cash price, patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash price directly, provided they confirm the facility offers a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount for upfront payment.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $243.77, which serves as a baseline to evaluate the facility's pricing markup. The facility's cash rate of $1,296.00 represents a 4.8x multiplier compared to the Medicare amount, reflecting the standard administrative and operational costs associated with commercial billing. To ensure you are not overcharged, it is recommended to request a full itemized bill before finalizing payment, as summary bills often obscure individual charges. If you receive a balance bill for an out-of-network service, you may be entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act, and you should dispute any unexpected charges in writing rather than accepting them immediately.