X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Wilson Medical Center
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $238
- Cash Discount Price: $224
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.68x 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 268% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 168%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $158 - $277 | 178% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $158 - $298 | 178% |
| Aetna | $158 - $298 | 178% |
| Humana | $158 | 178% |
| Tricare | $158 | 178% |
| Cigna | $238 | 268% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $274 | 308% |
| Mulitplan-All Plans | $274 | 308% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $298 | 335% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, chest (two views) procedure at Wilson Medical Center in Neodesha, KS, the facility's cash median rate of $224.00 is notably higher than the state average of $174.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that paying cash directly can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance if their plan's negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. The facility's median negotiated rate of $238.00 is also higher than the state average, and the gross charge of $298.00 represents the maximum amount billed before any discounts or insurance adjustments are applied.
Insurance coverage varies significantly across payers, with UnitedHealthcare, Ambetter/Centene, Aetna, Humana, and Tricare all negotiating a low-end rate of $158, while Blue Cross Blue Shield has a fixed rate of $298.00. Because Medicare sets a benchmark of $88.91 for this service, commercial rates are substantially higher, reflecting standard industry markups. To potentially lower 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 amount owed. Additionally, since the No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients can dispute any unexpected charges rather than paying immediately.