MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $950
- Cash Discount Price: $969
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.90x 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 390% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 290%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Health Partners-All Plans | $902 - $939 | 370% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $950 - $988 | 390% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $950 - $988 | 390% |
| Humana | $950 - $988 | 390% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $950 - $988 | 390% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 73721 (MRI, knee or other leg joint) at Stafford County Hospital in KS, the cash median price is $969.00, which matches the gross charge. This cash rate is notably higher than the state average of $950.00, though it aligns closely with the county average of $950.00. While commercial insurance plans like Health Partners, Medica, and Humana negotiate rates ranging from $950.00 to $988.00, patients with high-deductible plans might find the cash price more affordable if their insurance allowed amount exceeds $969.00. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can inflate the baseline price compared to direct cash payments.
Patients should be aware of balance billing risks if they receive care from out-of-network providers, where the facility could bill the difference between the provider's full chargemaster rate and the insurance allowed amount. However, the No Surprises Act protects patients from such surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, consumers are encouraged to request a detailed, itemized billing audit before paying any invoice to identify unbundled codes or services not rendered. Finally, Stafford County Hospital, a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, may offer prompt-pay discounts for upfront cash payments, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50%, so patients should verify self-pay or prompt-pay rates directly with the facility before scheduling.