X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Wamego Health Center
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $26
- Cash Discount Price: $149
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.29x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $7 - $51 | 8% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $7 - $49 | 8% |
| Aetna | $7 - $51 | 8% |
| Providrs Care | $12 - $32 | 13% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $162 - $171 | 182% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045 (X-ray, chest, single view) at Wamego Health Center in Wamego, KS, the cash median price is $149.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $373.00. This cash rate is also notably lower than the state average for this procedure, as indicated by the 30% variance compared to Medicare's benchmark rate of $88.91. While commercial payers like Medicaid/KanCare, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna have negotiated rates ranging from $7 to $51, these amounts often exceed the cash price. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the $149.00 cash median more cost-effective than relying on insurance, especially if their out-of-pocket costs for deductibles or copays would surpass this amount.
To ensure you receive the best possible rate, it is important to understand that hospitals frequently offer prompt-pay discounts for self-pay patients who settle their bill upfront. Since the facility's ownership is a voluntary non-profit, you should explicitly ask the billing department about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling your visit to avoid being billed the full negotiated amount by your insurer. Additionally, if you receive a bill from an out-of-network provider or encounter unexpected charges, you have the right to request an itemized billing audit to identify errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Remember that the No Surprises Act protects you from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, so do not sign away your rights to dispute any surprise charges without first reviewing the itemized statement in writing.