X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Kiowa District Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $229
- Cash Discount Price: $194
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.58x 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 258% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 158%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tricare | $94 | 106% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $122 | 137% |
| Healthchoice-All Plans | $160 | 180% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $194 - $242 | 218% |
| Health Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $213 | 240% |
| Humana | $218 | 245% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $227 | 255% |
| Gbs Insurance - All Plans | $227 | 255% |
| Triwest-All Plans | $230 | 259% |
| Aetna | $230 | 259% |
| Medicare (plans) | $230 | 259% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $242 | 272% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $363 | 408% |
| Liberty Healthshare-All Plans | $391 | 440% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray, Kiowa District Hospital in Kiowa, Kansas, lists a gross charge of $242.00. While the facility's cash median rate is $194.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by most commercial payers, patients should be aware that insurance plans often result in higher out-of-pocket costs due to deductibles. For instance, UnitedHealthcare has a negotiated range of $194.00 to $242.00, and Medicaid/KanCare is set at $242.00, meaning a patient with a high deductible might pay more out-of-pocket using insurance than by paying cash directly. To minimize costs, it is advisable to ask the hospital about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as paying in full upfront can sometimes bypass the administrative overhead associated with insurance billing cycles.
This facility is a Critical Access Hospital in a rural setting, and its pricing structure is evaluated against federal benchmarks. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $88.91, which serves as a baseline for fair pricing; commercial negotiated rates typically average between 200% and 300% of this figure, though fair pricing is often defined as 120% to 150%. The median negotiated rate of $229.00 reflects the contractual agreements with various insurers, including Tricare at $94.00 and Blue Cross Blue Shield at $122.00. Because over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a detailed, itemized statement rather than accepting a summary bill,