X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Stanton County Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $240
- Cash Discount Price: $252
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.70x 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 270% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 170%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $117 - $240 | 132% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $247 | 278% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $252 | 283% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray at Stanton County Hospital in Johnson, Kansas, the cash price is $252.00. This cash rate is identical to the facility's negotiated rate of $240.00 and the median amount paid by insurers, which is $243.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, the pricing structure here shows no significant deviation from the cash baseline, meaning patients paying out-of-pocket receive the same rate as those utilizing insurance. Given that the cash price matches the negotiated amount, there is no financial advantage to seeking a prompt-pay discount for this specific service, as the upfront payment would not reduce the total cost.
When evaluating the value of this service, it is important to compare these rates against the national baseline. The Medicare reimbursement amount for this procedure is $88.91, which serves as the objective cost benchmark. The facility's cash price of $252.00 represents a markup of 2.7 times the Medicare rate, which falls within the typical range of commercial pricing where rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this exact code, patients should remain aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, the final out-of-pocket cost depends entirely on individual plan deductibles and copays. Since the cash price is already aligned with the negotiated rate, patients with high deductibles may find that paying the full $252.00 upfront avoids any potential secondary billing, though no further discounts