X-ray, hip
Facility: Clara Barton Hospital
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $266
- Cash Discount Price: $207
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.99x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 299% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 199%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $172 | 193% |
| 6 Degrees Health - All Plans | $206 | 232% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $236 | 265% |
| Phcs - All Plans | $266 | 299% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $266 | 299% |
| Aetna | $266 | 299% |
| Hlth Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $271 | 305% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this X-ray, hip service at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, KS, the facility's cash price of $207 is lower than the median negotiated rate of $266 paid by most major insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare. While the facility's negotiated rates align with the state average for this procedure, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective, as it avoids the administrative markup inherent in insurance billing. Because the cash price is significantly below the insurer's allowed amount, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, which could further reduce the final cost.
It is important to understand that commercial insurance rates often exceed cash prices due to the costs of claims processing and contract management, meaning the $266 negotiated rate includes layers of administrative overhead not present in direct billing. Additionally, if you are an out-of-network patient, you may face balance billing for the difference between the hospital's full charge and what your insurance pays, though the No Surprises Act protects you from such surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a detailed, itemized bill before paying, as summary invoices can obscure errors or unbundled charges that should have been included in the procedure code.