X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $210
- Cash Discount Price: $210
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.36x 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 236% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 136%). 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 | $200 | 225% |
| Humana | $210 | 236% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $210 | 236% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $210 | 236% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $210 | 236% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray with two views, the cash price at Stafford County Hospital in Stafford, KS, is $210.00. This cash rate matches the facility's negotiated rates with all five major payers listed, including Health Partners, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and the VA, as well as the Medicare benchmark of $88.91. While the cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare amount, it is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the full cash price upfront can sometimes be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which may require you to meet your deductible before coverage begins. Because this is a Critical Access Hospital, the facility may offer prompt-pay discounts for self-pay patients, so it is advisable to ask the billing department directly about potential fee reductions for upfront payment before scheduling your visit.
The data indicates that the cash and negotiated rates for this procedure are uniform across all payer plans, with no variation in the billed amount of $210.00. Since the facility is a government-owned Critical Access Hospital, these rates reflect a specific pricing structure that differs from typical commercial hospital chargemasters. Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, it is still prudent to request an itemized bill to ensure no unexpected ancillary charges are included. If you receive a summary bill, you have the right to demand a detailed, line-by-line statement to verify that all services rendered are accurately coded and that no unbundled charges or services not delivered have been billed.