Mri jnt of lwr extre w/o dye

What is CPT Code 73721?

MRI of any joint of the lower extremity without contrast. Most commonly ordered for knee MRI to evaluate meniscal tears, ACL/PCL injuries, cartilage damage, and other joint pathology.

The Medicare reimbursement rate shown above is the amount the federal government has determined is a reasonable payment for this service. Hospitals and providers that participate in Medicare have agreed to accept these rates from Medicare patients.

Who typically bills this:Radiologist (interpretation) + hospital or outpatient imaging center (technical)

Common Billing Errors for CPT 73721

• !Upcoded to 73723 (with and without contrast) when no contrast was administered for a routine joint evaluation
• !Bilateral joint MRIs billed on the same date without distinct symptoms — each side requires separate justification
• !Arthroscopy or injection codes billed the same day as the diagnostic MRI for the same joint

Red Flags on Your Bill

Negotiation Tips for CPT 73721

1. 1Knee MRI without contrast Medicare rate is roughly $100–$130 professional; hospital chargemaster often $1,500–$4,000
2. 2If you had a sports injury, an outpatient orthopedic imaging center typically charges $400–$800
3. 3Bilateral billing (both knees) requires documentation that both knees had separate symptoms

Codes That Often Appear With This One

These CPT codes commonly appear on the same bill. Review each one to spot potential bundling errors or duplicate charges.

Found CPT 73721 on Your Bill?

If you see CPT code 73721 on a hospital or medical bill, compare the charged amount to the Medicare rate above. If your bill shows a significantly higher charge, you may have grounds to negotiate.

1. Note the amount charged for CPT 73721 on your itemized bill
2. Compare it to the Medicare rate above — calculate the markup
3. Call the billing department and use the Medicare rate as your anchor:“I see CPT code 73721 billed at [amount]. The Medicare rate for this procedure is $211.42. I'd like to discuss a fair adjustment.”