X-ray, ankle
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 73610 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73610
- Insurance Median: $246
- Cash Discount Price: $233
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.77x 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 277% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 177%). 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 | $89 - $259 | 100% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $139 | 156% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $220 | 247% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $233 | 262% |
| Aetna | $233 | 262% |
| First Health-All Plans | $233 | 262% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $246 | 277% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $246 | 277% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $246 | 277% |
| Cigna | $256 | 288% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $256 | 288% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, ankle procedure (CPT 73610) at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, KS, the facility's cash median rate is $233.00, which aligns with the median negotiated rate of $246.00 and the median paid amount. This price point is notably higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, reflecting a markup of 2.8 times the federal rate. While commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated rates ranging from $89 to $259, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more favorable if their insurance allowed amount exceeds $233.00. It is important to note that commercial rates often include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can inflate the baseline price compared to the scientifically validated Medicare cost basis.
Patients should proactively inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the total cost by bypassing expensive insurance billing cycles and administrative fees. Although the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, it is crucial to verify your specific plan's deductible status and allowed amounts to avoid unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, consumers are encouraged to request a full itemized CPT-coded statement rather than accepting summary bills, ensuring that all charges are accurate and that no services were unbundled or rendered incorrectly.