X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Labette Health
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $50
- Cash Discount Price: $135
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.56x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Uhccp | $12 - $42 | 13% |
| Aetna | $29 | 33% |
| Kansas Superior Select | $31 - $84 | 35% |
| Montgomery County | $32 - $149 | 36% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $49 - $81 | 55% |
| Multiplan | $49 - $294 | 55% |
| Healthy Blue | $50 | 56% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $81 - $151 | 91% |
| Wellcare | $81 | 91% |
| Humana | $81 | 91% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $81 - $301 | 91% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $94 | 106% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas, Inc | $312 | 351% |
| Choicecare (First Health Network) | $312 | 351% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray (two views), Labette Health in Parsons, KS, lists a cash median price of $135.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $193.00. While the facility is a government-owned acute care hospital, commercial insurance plans negotiate rates that often exceed the cash price; for instance, UnitedHealthcare and Multiplan have negotiated ranges extending up to $301 and $294 respectively. This pricing structure highlights a common billing dynamic where paying out-of-pocket can be more cost-effective than using insurance, particularly for patients with high deductibles or those whose plans negotiate rates above the facility's cash median. Patients should verify their specific plan's negotiated amount before scheduling, as some commercial payers may offer rates higher than the cash-pay option.
To ensure you are receiving the most accurate pricing, it is important to request an itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as hospitals may obscure individual code costs in broad categories. Additionally, while the facility's negotiated median is $50.00, this figure represents the average amount paid by insurers and does not reflect the full range of variability across different plans or the potential for prompt-pay discounts. If you choose to pay directly, ask the billing department about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50% if settled upfront. Always confirm whether the facility will submit a claim to your insurance automatically, as doing so may void any cash discount agreement you have secured.