X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $100
- Cash Discount Price: $256
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.12x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Health | $20 | 22% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $20 - $185 | 22% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $20 - $179 | 22% |
| Cigna | $20 - $127 | 22% |
| Humana | $20 - $23 | 22% |
| Medicare (plans) | $20 - $23 | 22% |
| Aetna | $20 - $252 | 22% |
| Kaiser | $20 - $270 | 22% |
| Innovage | $23 | 26% |
| Devoted Health | $23 | 26% |
| Wpaa | $71 - $210 | 80% |
| Direct To Employer | $75 - $393 | 84% |
| Christian Health Aid | $82 - $239 | 92% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $91 | 102% |
| Multiplan | $92 - $835 | 103% |
| Peak Health | $99 - $383 | 111% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $99 - $290 | 111% |
| United Colorado Doctor'S Plan | $182 | 205% |
| Denver Health | $232 | 261% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, chest (two views) procedure at St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City, the facility's cash median price of $256.00 is significantly lower than the average negotiated rates paid by major insurers, which range from $20 to $835 depending on the plan. While Medicare reimburses $88.91 for this service, commercial payers like Multiplan and Direct To Employer have negotiated rates as high as $835 and $393 respectively, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying the cash price directly, provided they qualify for self-pay or prompt-pay discounts. It is important to note that Kaiser's listed rate of $270 is an integrated-system internal rate and not a typical negotiated rate, so patients should verify their specific coverage details before scheduling to ensure they are not subject to balance billing for out-of-network ancillary services.
The facility's pricing structure reveals a wide variance in allowed amounts, with the lowest negotiated rate being $20 and the highest reaching $835, highlighting the importance of checking your specific plan's allowed amount before treatment. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a full itemized CPT-coded bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, which may hide unbundled charges or services not rendered. If you receive a balance bill for out-of-network services, you may be entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act, and you should dispute any unexpected charges in writing rather than paying immediately to avoid unnecessary debt. Always confirm with the hospital whether your specific procedure is covered under your plan's deductible before proceeding, as paying the cash price upfront can often bypass the administrative costs