X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Wamego Health Center
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $26
- Cash Discount Price: $219
- 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 | $9 - $51 | 10% |
| Aetna | $13 - $51 | 15% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $13 - $49 | 15% |
| Providrs Care | $14 - $42 | 16% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $198 - $208 | 223% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray with two views, the Wamego Health Center in Wamego, KS, lists a cash median price of $219.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $548.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. In this case, the median negotiated rate is $26.00, which appears lower than the cash price, but this figure likely reflects the amount paid by the insurer after deductibles and copays are applied, rather than the total cost to the patient. Patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially advantageous to pay the cash price directly, as the insurer's allowed amount could be higher than the cash rate, potentially leaving the patient responsible for a larger out-of-pocket balance.
When comparing pricing to benchmarks, the Medicare amount for this service is $88.91, and the facility's cash rate is approximately 2.46 times the Medicare amount, which falls within the typical range where commercial rates can vary widely. It is important to note that the "vs_medicare" metric of 0.3 in the data represents a specific ratio used for benchmarking but does not indicate that the cash price is only 30% of Medicare; rather, the cash price is substantially higher. To minimize costs, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20