X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Decatur Health
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $201
- Cash Discount Price: $238
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.26x 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 226% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 126%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wppa/Providrs Care- All Plans | $158 | 178% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $161 - $201 | 181% |
| Humana | $163 | 183% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $194 | 218% |
| Aetna | $238 - $264 | 268% |
| Midlands Choice- All Plans | $238 | 268% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $267 | 300% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray with two views, Decatur Health in Oberlin, KS, lists a gross charge of $264.00. While the facility's cash median rate is $238.00, commercial insurance payers negotiate rates ranging from $158 to $267 depending on the plan. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures; in this case, the highest negotiated rate of $267.00 is actually higher than the cash price. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash median of $238.00 upfront more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which could result in a higher allowed amount if the deductible has not been met. Additionally, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final cost.
This service is benchmarked against the federal Medicare rate of $88.91, which serves as a baseline for fair pricing. The facility's cash median of $238.00 represents a significant markup relative to the Medicare amount, a common dynamic where commercial rates can average 200% to 300% of Medicare due to provider cost reports and local wage indexes. To ensure you are receiving the best possible price, we recommend requesting a full itemized billing audit to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have inflated the total. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, reviewing the detailed line items before payment is the most effective way to identify