X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Susan B Allen Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $554
- Cash Discount Price: $123
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.23x 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 623% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 523%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $350 | 394% |
| Providrs Care | $757 | 851% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045 (X-ray, chest, single view) at Susan B Allen Memorial Hospital in El Dorado, KS, the cash price is $123.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $189.00. While the hospital's negotiated rates with UnitedHealthcare ($350) and Providrs Care ($757) are higher than the cash price, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more cost-effective if their insurance allowed amount exceeds the cash rate. It is important to note that the facility's negotiated rates of $554.00 are substantially higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, reflecting the administrative costs and contract structures inherent in commercial insurance.
Patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include multi-layered administrative structures that can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40% compared to the true cost of care. To minimize out-of-pocket expenses, consumers should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can bypass costly claims processing and reduce the final bill. If a patient receives a bill from an out-of-network provider or encounters unexpected charges, they should request a formal itemized audit to identify errors or unbundled codes, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be resolved through written dispute.