X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Kearny County Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $240
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.70x 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 270% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 170%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain Hospital&Medica | $240 | 270% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $240 | 270% |
| Humana | $240 | 270% |
| Aetna | $240 | 270% |
| Kansas Solutions | $240 | 270% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $240 | 270% |
| Meritain Health | $240 | 270% |
| Wps Gha - Mac J5 Part A | $240 | 270% |
| Community Care Health Plan Of | $240 | 270% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray (two views), the negotiated rate at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kansas, is $240.00, which matches the facility's gross charge. This rate is consistent across all nine payers listed, including UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Humana. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, the data does not provide specific county or state average rates for comparison. However, the median amount paid by insurers is $75.00, and the Medicare benchmark amount is $88.91. Under the No Surprises Act, patients receiving care at this in-network facility are protected from balance billing by out-of-network providers for emergency or non-emergency services, meaning they should only be responsible for their plan's deductible, copay, or coinsurance up to the allowed amount.
Patients should be aware that cash-pay rates are not listed for this service, but it is important to note that cash payments can sometimes be more cost-effective than insurance claims if the patient has a high deductible. Since the negotiated rate of $240.00 exceeds the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, paying out-of-pocket directly could result in significant savings if the patient qualifies for a self-pay or prompt-pay discount. Before scheduling, patients are encouraged to contact the hospital's billing department to confirm if a cash discount is available and to request a waiver of insurance submission to avoid automatic claims processing. Additionally, if a patient receives an itemized bill, they should request a full line-by-line audit to ensure no errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered are included