X-ray, ankle
Facility: Sheridan County Hospital
Billing Code: 73610 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73610
- Insurance Median: $192
- Cash Discount Price: $260
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.16x 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 216% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 116%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Celtic Insurance | $157 | 177% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $192 | 216% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $247 | 278% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, ankle procedure (CPT 73610) at Sheridan County Hospital in Hoxie, KS, the cash price is $260.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $192.00 and the cash median. This cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, reflecting a markup of 2.2 times the federal rate. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this service. Patients should note that if their insurance plan has a high deductible, paying the cash price of $260.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than using insurance, as commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead that can inflate the final bill.
To minimize costs, patients should verify if the hospital offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the total amount owed. It is important to request a waiver of insurance submission to ensure the cash rate applies rather than triggering an automatic claim that could result in higher charges. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, consumers should request a detailed, itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary invoice. This audit will help identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, ensuring the final bill aligns with the transparent data provided.