X-ray, ankle
Facility: Scott County Hospital
Billing Code: 73610 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73610
- Insurance Median: $277
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.12x 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 312% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 212%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $49 - $293 | 55% |
| Humana | $129 | 145% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $139 | 156% |
| Wppa | $185 - $1,200 | 208% |
| Aetna | $277 | 312% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this X-ray of the ankle at Scott County Hospital in Scott City, KS, the insurance negotiated rates range from $49 to $1,200 depending on your specific plan, with a median negotiated amount of $277. This facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure. While the gross charge listed is $308, commercial insurance rates often exceed the cash price due to administrative costs and contract dynamics; however, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more affordable if the insurance allowed amount is significantly higher than the cash rate. It is important to note that cash prices are not always the lowest option, as some commercial contracts include multi-layered administrative structures that inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40%.
To ensure you are receiving fair pricing, it is recommended to compare these rates against the Medicare benchmark, which serves as the objective baseline for healthcare costs. In this case, the Medicare amount is $88.91, and the facility's pricing is 3.1 times the Medicare rate, indicating a markup that is higher than the typical fair pricing range of 120% to 150% of Medicare. Additionally, patients should verify if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can bypass costly claims processing and reduce the final bill. If you receive a bill, always request a full itemized statement to identify any errors or unbundled codes before agreeing to payment terms, as summary bills often obscure individual price gouging.