X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Stevens County Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $221
- Cash Discount Price: $253
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.49x 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 249% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 149%). 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 | $94 | 106% |
| Aetna | $97 - $253 | 109% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $143 - $151 | 161% |
| First Health - All Plans | $228 | 256% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $241 | 271% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $253 | 285% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046 (X-ray, chest, two views) at Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, KS, the cash price is $253.00, which matches the facility's gross charge and the cash median. This rate is significantly higher than the state average, as indicated by a 2.5x markup compared to Medicare's benchmark of $88.91. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a government-local ownership structure, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more affordable than their insurance negotiated rates, which range from $94 to $253 depending on the payer. It is important to note that commercial payers like Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated rates that can exceed the cash price, meaning paying out-of-pocket upfront could result in lower total costs for the patient.
To maximize savings, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as hospitals often offer fee reductions of 20% to 50% for upfront payments that bypass costly insurance claims processing. Since the facility's median negotiated rate is $221.00, which is lower than the gross charge but potentially higher than the cash price, verifying your specific plan's allowed amount is crucial. Additionally, because the No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, patients should avoid signing out-of-network cost waivers and always demand a full itemized bill to ensure no unexpected charges are included.