X-ray, hip
Facility: Stanton County Hospital
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $299
- Cash Discount Price: $315
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.36x 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 336% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 236%). 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 | $165 - $299 | 186% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $309 | 348% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $315 | 354% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, hip procedure at Stanton County Hospital in Johnson, KS, the cash price is $315.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate and the cash median for this service. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, the data indicates a significant gap between the cash price and the Medicare benchmark of $88.91. This suggests that the commercial rate is substantially higher than the federal government's calculated cost baseline, which typically represents the true cost of delivery. Patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find the cash price more affordable than their insurance allowed amount, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics.
It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network emergency services at in-network facilities, unexpected charges can still occur from ancillary services or non-covered items. If you receive a bill, always request a full itemized statement to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been charged. Additionally, before finalizing payment, contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50% if paid upfront. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, disputing any discrepancies in writing is a critical step to ensuring you are only paying for the correct services at the agreed-upon rates.