X-ray, ankle
Facility: Stevens County Hospital
Billing Code: 73610 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73610
- Insurance Median: $204
- Cash Discount Price: $234
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.29x 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 229% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 129%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $87 | 98% |
| Aetna | $89 - $234 | 100% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $132 - $139 | 148% |
| First Health - All Plans | $211 | 237% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $223 | 251% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $234 | 263% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, ankle procedure (CPT 73610) at Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, Kansas, the cash price is $234.00, which matches the facility's gross charge and the median cash rate. This cash price is significantly lower than the negotiated rates charged to commercial payers, where amounts range from $87.00 to $234.00 depending on the specific insurance plan. For instance, while Aetna plans may pay up to $234.00 and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans up to $139.00, paying cash directly avoids these negotiated fees. Patients with high-deductible plans should consider that paying the full $234.00 upfront might result in immediate savings compared to the higher allowed amounts their insurance would process, provided they do not have other coverage that would offset the cost.
To maximize potential savings, patients should inquire about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within a short window, such as 30 days. This discount bypasses the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing and is often available even when a patient has insurance. Additionally, because this facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, patients should request an itemized billing audit to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final statement. While the facility's rating is 4 out of 5, the most critical step for cost control is verifying the exact self-pay or prompt-pay rate before scheduling, as billing systems may default to insurance processing if not explicitly classified as self-pay prior to check-in.