X-ray, ankle
Facility: Republic County Hospital
Billing Code: 73610 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73610
- Insurance Median: $307
- Cash Discount Price: $251
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.45x 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 345% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 245%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers-All Plans | $284 | 319% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $301 | 339% |
| Aetna | $301 | 339% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $307 | 345% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $317 | 357% |
| Cigna | $317 | 357% |
| First Health-All Plans | $317 | 357% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For an X-ray of the ankle at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS, the facility's cash median rate is $251.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by insurance carriers ranging from $284 to $317. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that the facility's cash rate is significantly lower than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91 for this procedure, indicating that the cash price reflects a substantial markup over the federal baseline. Additionally, the facility's facility rating is 3, which may influence patient choice alongside pricing considerations.
To minimize out-of-pocket costs, patients should proactively ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. Since the hospital is in-network for all listed payers, balance billing for this specific service is not applicable under the No Surprises Act, but patients should still verify their specific plan details to ensure no unexpected ancillary charges apply. If a discrepancy arises, consumers are advised to request a full itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital invoices contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Comparing the facility's performance to regional standards, the cash rate of $251.00 is notably higher than the Medicare amount but remains below the highest negotiated rates observed among the seven payers listed.