MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Greenwood County Hospital
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $1,167
- Cash Discount Price: $1,374
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.79x 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 479% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 379%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Triwest - All Plans | $476 - $750 | 195% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $495 - $521 | 203% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $560 - $1,766 | 230% |
| Choicecare Mcr Adv - All Plans | $560 - $883 | 230% |
| Tricare | $560 - $883 | 230% |
| Integrated Health Plan - All Plans | $1,000 - $1,576 | 410% |
| Beech Street - All Plans | $1,134 - $1,787 | 465% |
| First Health Ccn Network | $1,134 - $1,787 | 465% |
| First Health - All Other Plans | $1,134 - $1,787 | 465% |
| Preferred Hs (Coventry) - All Plans | $1,201 - $1,892 | 493% |
| Principal Health Care Inc - All Plans | $1,267 - $1,997 | 520% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,334 - $2,102 | 547% |
| Amerigroup Mcaid-All Plans | $1,334 - $2,102 | 547% |
| Providrs Care/Wppa - All Plans | $2,001 - $3,153 | 821% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI procedure of the knee or other leg joint at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka, Kansas, the cash price is $1,374, while the median amount paid by insurance is $1,134. This facility, a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, lists a gross charge of $1,718, which is significantly higher than the cash rate. When comparing these figures to the broader market, the cash price of $1,374 is notably lower than the state average for this service, offering a potential savings opportunity for patients who do not have insurance or have high deductibles. Although the median negotiated rate across payers is $1,167, which is lower than the cash price, patients should be aware that insurance billing often incurs administrative costs and potential balance billing risks if services are out-of-network, whereas paying cash upfront can bypass these complexities.
Patients should proactively ask the hospital about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% for upfront payment, effectively making the cash price even more attractive than the listed $1,374. It is important to verify that any insurance payment does not trigger balance billing for out-of-network ancillary services, as the No Surprises Act protects against such unexpected charges for emergency and non-emergency care at in-network facilities. Furthermore, while the Medicare benchmark for this service is $243.77, commercial rates often exceed this baseline; however, the facility's cash rate remains competitive relative to the state average. Consumers are advised to request a full itemized bill before scheduling to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, and to