MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Hodgeman County Health Center
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $1,580
- Cash Discount Price: $1,796
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.48x 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 648% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 548%). 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 | $500 - $526 | 205% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,437 - $2,245 | 589% |
| Humana | $1,437 | 589% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $1,437 | 589% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,437 - $2,133 | 589% |
| Aetna | $1,796 | 737% |
| First Health - All Plans | $2,020 | 829% |
| Wppa (Provdrscare) - All Plans | $2,133 | 875% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $2,133 | 875% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of a knee or other leg joint at Hodgeman County Health Center in Jetmore, Kansas, the cash median price is $1,796, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $2,245. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying cash upfront is more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for major payers like UnitedHealthcare and UnitedHealthcare range from $1,437 to $2,133. It is important to note that while Medicaid/KanCare plans have a low range starting at $1,437, the cash price of $1,796 remains a strong baseline for self-pay, and patients should explicitly request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling to avoid being billed the full gross amount.
When comparing this service to broader benchmarks, the facility's cash median of $1,796 is notably higher than the national cash median of $1,688, though it aligns closely with the Medicare amount of $243.77 when adjusted for the specific cost structure of this Critical Access Hospital. The facility's negotiated rates for commercial payers generally fall between $1,437 and $2,133, which is consistent with the typical 200% to 300% markup seen in commercial pricing relative to Medicare, although the specific contract dynamics for this location result in a lower effective rate. Consumers should be aware that balance billing is largely prohibited for emergency care under the No Surprises Act, and if a patient receives an unexpected bill