X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: F W Huston Medical Center
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $251
- Cash Discount Price: $261
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.82x 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 282% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 182%). 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 | $151 | 170% |
| Aetna | $244 | 274% |
| Humana | $258 | 290% |
| Cigna | $277 | 312% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray with two views, F W Huston Medical Center in Winchester, KS, lists a cash median price of $261.00. This cash rate is notably higher than the facility's own negotiated rate of $251.00 and exceeds the state average for this service. While commercial payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Humana, and Cigna have negotiated rates ranging from $151 to $277, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more advantageous if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds $261.00. It is important to note that commercial rates often include administrative overhead and contract markups that can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40%, making direct comparison with the Medicare benchmark of $88.91 the most accurate way to evaluate the facility's pricing markup.
To minimize costs, patients should proactively inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these incentives can reduce bills by 20% to 50% by bypassing costly insurance claims processing. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, it is crucial to verify your deductible status beforehand, as paying the full negotiated rate without meeting your deductible can result in significant out-of-pocket expenses. If you receive a bill, always request a detailed, itemized statement rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.