X-ray, hip
Facility: Wamego Health Center
Billing Code: 73502 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 73502
- Insurance Median: $49
- Cash Discount Price: $246
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.55x 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.
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 | $9 - $74 | 10% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $9 - $77 | 10% |
| Aetna | $9 - $77 | 10% |
| Providrs Care | $14 - $59 | 16% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $228 - $240 | 256% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, hip procedure (CPT 73502) at Wamego Health Center in Wamego, KS, the facility's cash median rate of $246.00 is significantly lower than the gross charge of $615.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. For instance, UnitedHealthcare, Medicaid/KanCare, and Aetna have negotiated ranges starting as high as $9 to $77, whereas the cash rate is $246.00. This suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, paying the cash price directly may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to having insurance cover the service, provided the patient qualifies for the cash rate rather than the higher negotiated amount.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is crucial to request a full itemized bill before finalizing payment, as summary bills can obscure individual line items and potential errors. If you receive a balance bill for the difference between the provider's full charge and your insurance allowed amount, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. Additionally, since the facility offers a cash median rate of $246.00, you should explicitly ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts at registration to potentially reduce the final amount further. Always verify your deductible status and request a waiver of insurance submission if you intend to pay cash upfront to avoid automatic claims processing