X-ray, hip

For the X-ray, hip procedure (CPT 73502), the facility's cash price of $265.00 is lower than the average negotiated rates paid by most commercial insurers, which range from $71 to $294 depending on the plan. While the cash rate is higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, it remains significantly below the gross chargemaster of $294.00. Patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more affordable than their insurance allowed amount, which varies widely across the 38 payers listed, with UnitedHealthcare plans ranging from $85 to $294 and Medicaid/KanCare at the maximum of $294. It is important to note that while commercial rates are generally higher than cash, the specific negotiated rate for your plan could be lower than the cash price if you have a low deductible or specific coverage tier.

To minimize unexpected costs, patients should explicitly ask the billing department for "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can lower the total amount owed. Additionally, if you receive a bill from an out-of-network provider or for services rendered at an in-network facility, you may be entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency and non-emergency care. If you do receive a surprise bill, do not pay it immediately; instead, request a formal itemized audit to identify errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, and dispute the charges in writing to avoid unnecessary debt.