X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Cloud County Health Center
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $536
- Cash Discount Price: $395
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.03x 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 603% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 503%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $508 - $525 | 571% |
| Pponext-All Plans | $536 | 603% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $536 | 603% |
| Mpi-All Plans | $536 | 603% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, chest (two views) procedure at Cloud County Health Center in Concordia, KS, the facility's cash median price of $395.00 is lower than the state average of $536.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like Aetna, Pponext-All Plans, and others are set at $536.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more advantageous if their insurance allows a higher amount than the cash rate. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can make them higher than direct cash prices, so verifying your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling is essential to avoid unexpected costs.
Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, it is still wise to request a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before check-in. Hospitals often offer a fee reduction of 20% to 50% for upfront payment, bypassing the costly claims processing cycle that inflates insurance bills. If you receive a bill that appears to include charges for services not rendered or unbundled codes, you have the right to request a formal itemized audit to identify errors, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes. Always dispute any discrepancies in writing to ensure you are only paying for the actual care provided.