X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $81
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.91x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $14 - $248 | 16% |
| Aetna | $81 | 91% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $81 - $191 | 91% |
| Cigna | $83 - $194 | 93% |
| Medica | $201 | 226% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray, the Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute in Leawood, KS, has a gross charge of $388.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare range from $81 to $248, the Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91. This indicates that the facility's commercial negotiated rates are significantly higher than the federal baseline, which serves as the objective standard for true healthcare costs. Although the data does not provide a specific state or county average for comparison, the disparity between the gross charge and the Medicare rate highlights the importance of understanding that commercial contracts often include administrative markups that exceed the actual cost of delivery.
Patients should be aware that cash-pay options may offer financial advantages depending on their specific insurance situation. Since the cash median is not listed in the data, it is recommended to directly contact the facility to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price might be cheaper than your insurance's negotiated rate, which could exceed $200 for some carriers. Furthermore, if you receive a bill from an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility, the No Surprises Act protects you from balance billing for emergency and non-emergency services, so you should not feel pressured to pay unexpected differences immediately without first requesting a formal audit.