MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Goodland Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $1,412
- Cash Discount Price: $2,118
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.79x 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 579% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 479%). 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 | $526 | 216% |
| Wppa | $1,334 - $2,824 | 547% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,412 - $2,824 | 579% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of a knee or other leg joint at Goodland Regional Medical Center in Goodland, Kansas, the cash median price is $2,118.00, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $2,354.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates can sometimes exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures. For instance, Wppa and UnitedHealthcare have negotiated ranges starting at $1,334 and $1,412 respectively, but these figures may not reflect the final amount a patient owes if their deductible has not been met. In such cases, paying the cash price directly could result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to the insurance allowed amount, provided the patient qualifies for a self-pay or prompt-pay discount.
It is important to distinguish between the facility's negotiated rates and the broader market context, as this specific procedure does not include state or county average data for comparison in the current report. However, the Medicare benchmark of $243.77 serves as a critical baseline for understanding pricing; commercial rates are often significantly higher than this federal rate, which represents the true cost of care delivery. Patients should avoid accepting summary bills that obscure individual charges, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. If a balance bill arises from an out-of-network provider, the No Surprises Act may protect patients from paying the difference between the provider's full charge and the insurance allowed amount, so disputing unexpected invoices with written records is a vital step in protecting against medical debt.