MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Clay County Medical Center
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $2,082
- Cash Discount Price: $2,239
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.54x 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 854% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 754%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplan- All Plans | $63 - $2,545 | 26% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $75 - $2,545 | 31% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $80 - $2,545 | 33% |
| Wppa/Providrs Care- All Plans | $126 - $2,491 | 52% |
| Aetna | $126 - $2,491 | 52% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI procedure of the knee or other leg joint at Clay County Medical Center in Clay Center, KS, the cash median price is $2,239.00, which matches the facility's gross charge. This rate is significantly higher than the state average, reflecting the facility's status as a Critical Access Hospital with local government ownership. While commercial insurance plans like Multiplan, Health Partners, and UnitedHealthcare have negotiated rates ranging from $75 to $2,545, these amounts often exceed the cash price. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash rate of $2,239.00 upfront may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to insurance claims that could trigger balance billing if ancillary services are out-of-network. We strongly recommend asking the facility about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as paying in full within a short window can sometimes reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%.
When reviewing your final invoice, it is crucial to request a detailed, itemized bill rather than accepting a summary statement, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or charges for services not rendered. If you receive a bill for the difference between the provider's chargemaster rate and your insurance allowed amount, this is known as balance billing; however, the No Surprises Act generally protects you from these unexpected charges for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure you are paying a fair price, compare the facility's rates against the Medicare benchmark of $243.77 for this code. Commercial negotiated rates typically average 200% to