MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $2,022
- Cash Discount Price: $1,915
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.29x 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 829% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 729%). 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 | $244 - $2,128 | 100% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $526 | 216% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $1,809 | 742% |
| First Health-All Plans | $1,915 | 786% |
| Aetna | $1,915 | 786% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $1,915 | 786% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $2,022 | 829% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $2,022 | 829% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $2,022 | 829% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $2,107 | 864% |
| Cigna | $2,107 | 864% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this MRI procedure at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, KS, the cash price is $1,915, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $2,022 paid by most insurance plans. While the facility's cash rate is slightly higher than the state average for this service, it remains below the gross chargemaster price of $2,128. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount. To secure the lowest possible cost, we recommend asking the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill.
It is important to understand that commercial insurance rates are often inflated by administrative costs and contract dynamics, sometimes reaching 200% to 300% of the Medicare benchmark rate of $243.77 for this code. Although the facility's negotiated rate of $2,022 is significantly higher than the Medicare amount, it is still lower than the gross charges, suggesting a reasonable discount from the list price. If you receive a surprise bill from an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility, the No Surprises Act protects you from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services. Always request a full itemized bill before paying, as summary invoices may hide unbundled charges or services not rendered, and dispute any errors in writing to ensure you are only paying for care actually provided.