X-ray, hip
Facility: Wilson Medical Center
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $274
- Cash Discount Price: $257
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.08x 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 308% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 208%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $182 - $343 | 205% |
| Humana | $182 | 205% |
| Tricare | $182 | 205% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $182 - $343 | 205% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $182 - $319 | 205% |
| Cigna | $274 | 308% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $316 | 355% |
| Mulitplan-All Plans | $316 | 355% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $343 | 386% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, hip procedure (CPT 73502) at Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha, KS, the facility's cash median rate is $257.00, which is lower than the gross chargemaster price of $343.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates for in-network payers like Aetna and Ambetter / Centene range from $182 to $343, often exceeding the cash price. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can bypass the administrative overhead and administrative markups inherent in the insurance billing cycle.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is important to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the inflated chargemaster list. The Medicare amount for this code is $88.91, and the facility's cash rate of $257.00 represents a markup of 3.1 times the Medicare rate. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this exact procedure, the significant difference between the Medicare baseline and the cash price highlights the importance of understanding the true cost structure. Patients should avoid accepting summary bills and instead request a detailed, itemized audit to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through formal written disputes.