X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Cheyenne County Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $198
- Cash Discount Price: $177
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.23x 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 223% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 123%). 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 | $122 | 137% |
| First Health - All Plans | $146 | 164% |
| Aetna | $150 - $198 | 169% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $150 - $208 | 169% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $150 | 169% |
| Tricare | $150 | 169% |
| Choice Care - All Plans | $151 | 170% |
| Firstguard - All Plans | $166 | 187% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $187 | 210% |
| Preferred Hc - All Plans | $198 | 223% |
| Cpm - All Plans | $198 | 223% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $202 | 227% |
| Ppo Next - All Plans | $204 | 229% |
| Integrated Hp - All Plans | $204 | 229% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $204 | 229% |
| Unicare - All Plans | $204 | 229% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $208 | 234% |
| Childrens Mercy - All Plans | $208 | 234% |
| Healthwave Mcaid - All Plans | $208 | 234% |
| Providers Care-All Plans | $312 | 351% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray at Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis, KS, the facility's cash median rate is $177.00, which is lower than the state average of $187.00. While many commercial payers have negotiated rates ranging from $122 to $312, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount. To secure the lowest possible price, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can significantly lower the final bill compared to standard insurance processing.
It is important to understand that commercial insurance rates are often inflated by administrative costs and contract dynamics, with negotiated rates frequently averaging 200% to 300% of the Medicare benchmark of $88.91 for this service. Since the facility is a Critical Access Hospital, patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act, though unexpected ancillary charges from out-of-network providers can still occur. If a patient receives a bill that appears to include charges for services not rendered or unbundled components, they should request a formal itemized audit to identify errors, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be resolved through written dispute with the billing supervisor.