X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Mcpherson Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $59
- Cash Discount Price: $46
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.66x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tricare | $7 - $70 | 8% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $7 - $334 | 8% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $7 - $334 | 8% |
| Health Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $7 - $341 | 8% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $8 - $80 | 9% |
| Aetna | $8 - $334 | 9% |
| Humana | $8 - $80 | 9% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $8 - $92 | 9% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $8 - $80 | 9% |
| Wellcare Mcr Adv - All Plans | $8 - $80 | 9% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $8 - $80 | 9% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $10 - $301 | 11% |
| Central Plains - All Plans | $29 - $250 | 33% |
| Medical Associates - All Plans | $29 - $250 | 33% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $37 - $317 | 42% |
| Cigna | $37 - $317 | 42% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $43 - $234 | 48% |
| Christian Health Aid - All Plans | $50 - $267 | 56% |
| First Health - All Plans | $59 - $317 | 66% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a single-view chest X-ray at McPherson Hospital in Mcpherson, KS, the facility's cash median rate is $46.00, which is lower than the state average of $50.00. While the hospital's gross chargemaster is $62.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more cost-effective than using insurance, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead. The data shows that while some payers like Tricare and Medicaid/KanCare have negotiated ranges starting at $7, others such as Health Partners and Cigna have negotiated rates reaching up to $317, highlighting that in-network coverage does not guarantee the lowest possible price.
To minimize out-of-pocket costs, patients should proactively request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can significantly reduce the final bill by bypassing costly insurance claims processing. It is also important to understand that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency services at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act, though patients should still verify their specific plan's network status to avoid unexpected charges. Finally, if a patient receives an invoice, they should demand a full itemized CPT-coded statement rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.