X-ray, shoulder
Facility: Graham County Hospital
Billing Code: 73030 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73030
- Insurance Median: $147
- Cash Discount Price: $190
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.65x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $118 | 133% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $118 - $180 | 133% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $139 | 156% |
| Medicare (plans) | $142 | 160% |
| Celtic Commercial-All Other Plans | $157 | 177% |
| Wppa (Providers Care)-All Plans | $180 | 202% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, shoulder procedure (CPT 73030) at Graham County Hospital in Hill City, Kansas, the cash price is $190.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $190.00. This cash price is significantly higher than the state average for this service, which is $118.00, and exceeds the lowest negotiated rates found across the state. While commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated rates ranging from $118 to $180, these amounts often exceed the cash price for patients with high-deductible plans. In such cases, paying cash upfront can be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the administrative costs and claim processing fees embedded in negotiated rates can inflate the final bill.
Patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can lower the total cost by 20% to 50%. It is important to request a waiver of insurance submission to ensure the cash discount applies and to avoid automatic claims that might void the agreement. Additionally, while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government ownership, the charged amount of $190.00 is 1.7 times the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, indicating a markup relative to the federal cost baseline. Consumers are advised to review their itemized bill carefully to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit.