X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Salina Regional Health Center
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $334
- Cash Discount Price: $260
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.76x 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 376% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 276%). 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 | $129 - $136 | 145% |
| Preferred Phsic | $223 | 251% |
| Preferred Healthcare - All Other Plans | $300 | 337% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $334 | 376% |
| Multiplan (Mpi)-All Plans | $334 | 376% |
| Cigna | $334 | 376% |
| Aetna | $334 | 376% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, chest (single view) procedure at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, KS, the facility's cash median rate of $260.00 is lower than the state average of $300.00. While commercial insurance plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Preferred Phsic have negotiated rates ranging from $129 to $223, these figures often exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying out-of-pocket. It is important to note that commercial rates can sometimes be higher than cash prices due to administrative costs and contract dynamics, so verifying the "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount with the hospital before scheduling is a critical step to ensure you are not overpaying.
The facility's negotiated rates average $334.00, which is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, reflecting a markup common in commercial healthcare pricing. However, patients should be aware of balance billing risks if they receive care from out-of-network providers, even at an in-network hospital, where the provider could bill the difference between their full chargemaster rate and the insurance allowed amount. To protect against unexpected costs, consumers should request a full itemized CPT-coded bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that can be disputed in writing to reduce medical debt.