X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Graham County Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $162
- Cash Discount Price: $202
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.82x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $40 - $192 | 45% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $40 | 45% |
| Medicare (plans) | $152 | 171% |
| Celtic Commercial-All Other Plans | $167 | 188% |
| Wppa (Providers Care)-All Plans | $192 | 216% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, chest (two views) procedure at Graham County Hospital in Hill City, KS, the cash price is $202.00, which aligns exactly with the facility's median negotiated rate of $167.00 and the cash median of $202.00. This service is priced at 1.8 times the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, reflecting a markup typical for commercial insurance contracts. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should note that commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Medicaid/KanCare have negotiated rates ranging from $40 to $192, with the highest allowed amount being $192.00. Because commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract premiums, the cash price can sometimes be lower than what a patient with a high deductible would pay if their insurance allowed the full negotiated amount.
To minimize costs, patients are encouraged to verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as in-network rates vary significantly even within the same facility. If your insurance plan has not yet met your deductible, you may be responsible for paying the full negotiated rate rather than the cash price. Additionally, since this is a government-owned facility, you should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront. Avoid relying on summary bills that only show broad categories; instead, request a detailed itemized statement to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. Finally, always compare the facility's rates against the state and county averages to confirm you are receiving fair