X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $208
- Cash Discount Price: $219
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.34x 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 234% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 134%). 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 | $175 | 197% |
| Humana | $199 | 224% |
| Aetna | $202 - $219 | 227% |
| Hpk-All Plans | $208 | 234% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $208 | 234% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $219 | 246% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For CPT code 71045, a chest X-ray at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital, the cash price is $219.00, which matches the facility's gross charge and the highest negotiated rate among payers. While the median negotiated rate across all six payers is $208.00, the cash price remains the most transparent figure for patients without insurance. It is important to note that cash payments can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance, particularly for those with high-deductible plans where the insurer's allowed amount might exceed the cash price. Patients should verify if the hospital offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, as paying upfront can often reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative fees and claims processing costs.
This service is provided by a Critical Access Hospital in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, and the facility is owned by a Government Hospital District. The Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $88.91, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups. Commercial negotiated rates typically range from 200% to 300% of the Medicare amount, though fair pricing is often defined as 120% to 150%. Since the data provided does not include specific state or county average comparisons, patients should rely on the Medicare rate as the standard for assessing whether the facility's pricing is reasonable. If you receive a bill that exceeds these benchmarks, you may consider requesting an itemized billing audit to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected.