X-ray, hip
Facility: Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $187
- Cash Discount Price: $213
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.10x 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 210% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 110%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $108 - $137 | 121% |
| Tricare | $116 - $148 | 130% |
| Aetna | $136 - $252 | 153% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $136 - $280 | 153% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $136 - $280 | 153% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $136 - $174 | 153% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $150 - $191 | 169% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $209 - $266 | 235% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Plans | $220 - $280 | 247% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $237 | 267% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, hip procedure (CPT 73502) at Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital in Wakeeney, KS, the facility's cash median price is $213.00, which is notably higher than the state average of $162.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. For instance, Aetna's high-end negotiated rate reaches $252, and UnitedHealthcare's ranges up to $280, both surpassing the cash-pay amount. This suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, paying the cash price directly may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to using an in-network plan where the allowed amount exceeds the cash rate.
To minimize unexpected costs, patients should actively request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can significantly reduce the final bill. It is also important to understand that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency services at in-network facilities, patients must still verify that all ancillary services, such as specific lab tests or imaging, are covered under their plan to avoid surprise charges. Finally, if a bill is received, consumers should demand a full itemized audit rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, which can be corrected through a formal written dispute sent to the billing supervisor.