MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Wilson Medical Center
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $824
- Cash Discount Price: $773
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.38x 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 338% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 238%). 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 | $521 - $1,030 | 214% |
| Humana | $546 | 224% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $546 - $1,030 | 224% |
| Aetna | $546 - $1,030 | 224% |
| Tricare | $546 | 224% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $546 - $958 | 224% |
| Cigna | $824 | 338% |
| Mulitplan-All Plans | $948 | 389% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $948 | 389% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this MRI procedure at Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha, KS, the cash median price is $773, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,030. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that insurance negotiated rates can sometimes exceed cash prices. For instance, the median negotiated rate across payers is $824, and several plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield and Ambetter/Centene, have a high-end range reaching up to $1,030. If you have a high-deductible plan where your deductible has not yet been met, paying the cash price of $773 upfront may result in immediate savings compared to the insurance allowed amount.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is critical to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, if you encounter a balance bill from an out-of-network provider, the No Surprises Act generally protects you from paying the difference between the provider's full charge and your insurance payment for emergency care or non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Finally, do not assume that being in-network guarantees the lowest price; always verify your specific plan's allowed amount and ask the hospital directly about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce your bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront.