X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Clara Barton Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $248
- Cash Discount Price: $193
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.79x 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 279% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 179%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $149 | 168% |
| 6 Degrees Health - All Plans | $192 | 216% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $220 | 247% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $248 | 279% |
| Phcs - All Plans | $248 | 279% |
| Aetna | $248 | 279% |
| Hlth Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $253 | 285% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray with two views, Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, KS, lists a gross charge of $275.00. While the facility's cash median rate is $193.00 and the median negotiated rate for in-network payers is $248.00, these figures are significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91. Specifically, the negotiated rate is 2.8 times the Medicare amount, which aligns with the typical commercial markup range of 200% to 300% of Medicare rates. Because commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash median of $193.00 more cost-effective than relying on insurance, provided they can secure a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before the claim is submitted.
To ensure you receive the most accurate pricing, it is critical to request an itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. If you choose to use insurance, be aware that the facility's negotiated rates are set against a specific payer list where the lowest allowed amount is $149.00 and the highest is $253.00 across seven different plans. Before scheduling, verify your specific plan's allowed amount and consider asking for a prompt-pay discount, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront, effectively bypassing the costly insurance claims processing cycle.