Price Checker / CPT 73221
How much does MRI Joint Upr Extrem Without Contrast cost?
CPT 73221 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is roughly 10x the fair price. This is well above fair — push back or dispute it.
Fair price
$310–$620
What this should cost
With insurance
~$2,200
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$780
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $4,799 is $4,329 over the fair price (about 10x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for MRI Joint Upr Extrem Without Contrast
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| WTH Dyersburg Hospital , TN | — | $165 | 31773% |
| Watertown Regional Medical Center Watertown, WI | $7,528 | — | 3571% |
| Margaret Mary Health , OH | $7,160 | — | 3391% |
| Twin County Regional Hospital GALAX, VA | $7,090 | — | 3357% |
| UPMC Horizon-Greenville GREENVILLE, PA | $6,219 | $4,975 | 2932% |
| UPMC Horizon GREENVILLE, PA | $6,219 | $4,975 | 2932% |
| UPMC Horizon-Shenango GREENVILLE, PA | $6,219 | $4,975 | 2932% |
| Wilson Medical Center WILSON, NC | $5,862 | — | 2758% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Muskogee Muskogee, OK | $5,771 | — | 2714% |
| Solara Specialty Hospitals Brownsville Brownsville, TX | $5,771 | — | 2714% |
| Solara Specialty Hospitals Harlingen Harlingen, TX | $5,771 | — | 2714% |
| EHHS Fulton Square Clinic , WI | $5,489 | $4,007 | 2577% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Broken Arrow Broken Arrow, OK | $5,391 | — | 2529% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Conroe Conroe, TX | $5,303 | — | 2486% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Little Rock Little Rock, AR | $5,303 | — | 2486% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About MRI Joint Upr Extrem Without Contrast
CPT code 73221 refers to mri joint upr extrem without contrast (billing description: "Mri joint upr extrem w/o dye"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $205 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $205 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.