MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Graham County Hospital
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $601
- Cash Discount Price: $775
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.47x 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 247% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 147%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $374 - $736 | 153% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $374 | 153% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $521 | 214% |
| Medicare (plans) | $581 | 238% |
| Celtic Commercial-All Other Plans | $639 | 262% |
| Wppa (Providers Care)-All Plans | $736 | 302% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of a knee or other leg joint at Graham County Hospital in Hill City, Kansas, the cash price is $775.00, which matches the facility's median paid amount. This cash rate is notably higher than the state average for this procedure, which is $639.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans might find that paying the full cash price upfront is more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for major payers like UnitedHealthcare and Celtic Commercial range from $521 to $736. Because the cash price is already at the facility's median paid level, there is no significant gap between self-pay and insurance reimbursement for this specific service, but it remains above the state average.
To minimize potential costs, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these programs can offer immediate fee reductions for upfront payment. It is also important to request a full itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or charges for services not rendered. Furthermore, if you receive a balance bill for out-of-network ancillary services, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Always verify your deductible status and request a formal written audit dispute if you believe any charges are incorrect.