X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Stevens County Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $181
- Cash Discount Price: $208
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.04x 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 204% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 104%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $77 | 87% |
| Aetna | $79 - $208 | 89% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $117 - $124 | 132% |
| First Health - All Plans | $187 | 210% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $197 | 222% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $208 | 234% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray at Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, Kansas, the cash price is $208.00. This cash rate is identical to the facility's gross chargemaster and the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, resulting in a markup of 2.0 times the Medicare rate. While commercial insurance negotiated rates for this service range from $77 to $208 depending on the payer, the cash price remains the lowest fixed amount available. Patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find the cash price advantageous, as it avoids the administrative overhead and potential higher negotiated rates that insurers charge. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a government-local ownership structure, patients should verify if their specific insurance plan has a lower allowed amount before scheduling, as some commercial payers may negotiate rates below the cash price.
The data indicates that the cash price of $208.00 is significantly higher than the median negotiated rate of $181.00 and the median paid amount of $111.00, suggesting that insurance coverage generally results in lower out-of-pocket costs for members. However, patients must be aware of balance billing risks if they receive out-of-network care, where the provider could bill the difference between the full charge and the insurance allowed amount. To protect against surprise bills, consumers should request a full itemized billing audit before paying any invoice, ensuring no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. Additionally, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about prompt-pay discounts before check-in, as paying the cash price upfront or within 30