MRI, knee or other leg joint
Facility: Salina Regional Health Center
Billing Code: 73721 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73721
- Insurance Median: $3,525
- Cash Discount Price: $2,742
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 14.46x 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 1446% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1346%). 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 | $551 - $580 | 226% |
| Preferred Phsic | $2,350 | 964% |
| Preferred Healthcare - All Other Plans | $3,173 | 1302% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $3,525 | 1446% |
| Cigna | $3,525 | 1446% |
| Aetna | $3,525 | 1446% |
| Multiplan (Mpi)-All Plans | $3,525 | 1446% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the MRI of a knee or other leg joint at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, KS, the facility's cash median price is $2,742.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by most major insurers. While the facility's negotiated rate of $3,525.00 is significantly higher than the cash price, it remains below the median negotiated rate of $3,525.00 observed across the state and county averages. Patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price directly is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount often exceeds the cash rate. To maximize savings, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status and ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill.
The Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $243.77, which serves as a critical baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing structure. The facility's cash rate of $2,742.00 represents a markup of approximately 14.5 times the Medicare amount, reflecting the complexity of the procedure and the facility's cost basis. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead for claims processing and contract management, which can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40% compared to the true cost of care. Consumers should avoid comparing discounts to the hospital's gross chargemaster list, as these figures are inflated; instead, they should focus on the Medicare rate to understand the fair value of the service. If a patient receives an itemized bill, they should request a full