X-ray, hip
Facility: Hamilton County Hospital
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $168
- Cash Discount Price: $177
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.89x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $81 - $173 | 91% |
| First Health Coventry - All Plans | $150 | 169% |
| Cigna | $168 | 189% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $168 | 189% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $177 | 199% |
| Aetna | $301 | 339% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 73502 (X-ray, hip) at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, KS, the cash price is $177.00, which matches the facility's gross charge and the median paid amount. This cash rate is significantly lower than the negotiated rates charged to commercial payers, with the highest negotiated amount reaching $301.00 for Aetna. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, patients should be aware that paying cash upfront often results in immediate savings compared to insurance billing, as commercial contracts frequently include administrative markups that exceed the actual cost of the service.
To maximize savings, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as hospitals often offer fee reductions of 20% to 50% for upfront payments that bypass costly insurance claims processing. It is important to avoid balance billing by ensuring the facility submits a claim only if necessary, and patients should always demand a full itemized bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. Since the cash price of $177.00 is notably higher than the Medicare amount of $88.91, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash rate directly is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which could result in higher out-of-pocket costs if the negotiated rate exceeds the patient's deductible.