X-ray, hip
Facility: Sheridan County Hospital
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $239
- Cash Discount Price: $322
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.69x 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 269% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 169%). 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 | $195 | 219% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $239 | 269% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $306 | 344% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray of the hip (CPT 73502) at Sheridan County Hospital in Hoxie, KS, the cash price is $322.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $239.00 and the cash median. This service is significantly more expensive than the state average, with the cash price being 2.7 times the Medicare benchmark of $88.91. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price advantageous if their insurance negotiated rates exceed this amount, as paying upfront can sometimes result in lower out-of-pocket costs.
To maximize savings, patients should proactively request self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as these programs often offer fee reductions of 20% to 50% for upfront payment. It is crucial to avoid automatic claims submission by signing a waiver of insurance submission, ensuring the hospital applies the cash rate rather than processing a claim that could lead to higher administrative costs. Additionally, patients should demand a full itemized bill before paying to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as summary bills can obscure errors that might otherwise reduce the total owed.