X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Rawlins County Health Center
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $270
- Cash Discount Price: $264
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.04x 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 304% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 204%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $124 | 139% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $270 | 304% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this X-ray, chest (single view) procedure at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas, the cash price is $264.00, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $310.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, the data indicates that the cash rate is significantly lower than the state average, which is $270.00. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price directly might be more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rate of $270.00 exceeds the cash amount. Patients should verify their specific plan details and ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling to ensure they are receiving the most favorable rate available.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The commercial negotiated rate of $270.00 represents a higher cost than the Medicare amount, reflecting the administrative structures and contract dynamics typical of commercial insurance. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network emergency care at in-network facilities, patients should still review their itemized bills carefully. If you receive a summary bill, request a full itemized CPT-coded statement to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be resolved through a formal written audit dispute.