X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Kiowa District Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $259
- Cash Discount Price: $219
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.91x 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 291% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 191%). 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 | $107 | 120% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $149 | 168% |
| Healthchoice-All Plans | $160 | 180% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $219 - $274 | 246% |
| Health Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $241 | 271% |
| Humana | $247 | 278% |
| Gbs Insurance - All Plans | $258 | 290% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $258 | 290% |
| Aetna | $260 | 292% |
| Triwest-All Plans | $260 | 292% |
| Medicare (plans) | $260 | 292% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $274 | 308% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $411 | 462% |
| Liberty Healthshare-All Plans | $443 | 498% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray with two views, the cash price at Kiowa District Hospital is $219.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $258.00 to $259.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Kiowa, KS, the data provided does not include specific county or state average benchmarks for this procedure, so a direct comparison to regional averages cannot be made. However, the Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. Commercial negotiated rates for this facility range from $107 for Tricare up to $443 for Liberty Healthshare-All Plans, with the gross charge listed at $274.00.
Patients should be aware that paying cash upfront can sometimes result in a lower out-of-pocket cost than using insurance, particularly if the patient's deductible has not yet been met. Although the facility offers a cash price of $219.00, commercial payers negotiate rates that often exceed this amount due to administrative costs and contract structures. To maximize savings, patients are encouraged to contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% when paid in full before or shortly after the service. Additionally, since the No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, patients should verify their network status and request an itemized bill to ensure no unexpected charges are applied.