MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Lincoln County Hospital
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $553
- Cash Discount Price: $954
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.27x 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 227% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 127%). 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 | $553 | 227% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this MRI procedure at Lincoln County Hospital in Lincoln, KS, the cash price of $954.00 is significantly lower than the negotiated rate of $553.00 paid by Blue Cross Blue Shield. Because the cash price is lower than the insurance negotiated rate, patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may save money by paying directly at the time of service. It is important to verify if the facility offers a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount, which can further reduce the final amount owed.
This service is provided by a Critical Access Hospital, a facility type often subject to specific federal pricing rules. While the data does not include a specific county or state average for comparison, the Medicare benchmark of $243.77 serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing structure. The Medicare amount represents the federal government's calculated cost for this procedure, and commercial rates are frequently higher than this baseline due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, it is still advisable to request an itemized bill to ensure no unexpected charges are included.