X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $207
- Cash Discount Price: $207
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.33x 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 233% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 133%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Health Partners-All Plans | $197 | 222% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $207 | 233% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $207 | 233% |
| Humana | $207 | 233% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $207 | 233% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray, Stafford County Hospital lists a consistent price of $207 across all five major payers, including Health Partners, Medica, UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and the VA. This negotiated rate matches the facility's cash median and median negotiated amount exactly, indicating no variation based on insurance plan. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Stafford, Kansas, this specific service rate does not appear to differ significantly from the state average, as the cash price aligns with the Medicare benchmark of $88.91 at a ratio of 2.3 times the Medicare amount. Patients with high-deductible plans may find this cash price advantageous, as paying upfront avoids the administrative overhead and potential balance billing associated with insurance claims processing.
To maximize savings, consumers should proactively request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50%. It is important to verify that the billing system is set to a self-pay classification and to sign a waiver preventing automatic claims submission to ensure the lower cash rate applies. Additionally, since the No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, patients should review their itemized bill carefully to ensure no unexpected charges for out-of-network ancillary services are included. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, requesting a full, line-by-line itemized statement is a critical step to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered before finalizing payment.