X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Phillips County Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $324
- Cash Discount Price: $304
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.64x 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 364% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 264%). 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 | $151 - $290 | 170% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $286 - $358 | 322% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $358 | 403% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $358 | 403% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray with two views, Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg, KS, lists a cash price of $304.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like UnitedHealthcare ($286–$358) and Blue Cross Blue Shield ($151–$290). While the cash price is competitive, patients should note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and may exceed the cash price, making upfront payment a potentially more affordable option for those with high-deductible plans. The facility, a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, has a median negotiated rate of $324.00, which is higher than the cash median, illustrating how insurance contracts can sometimes result in higher out-of-pocket costs compared to self-pay.
When reviewing your bill, it is important to distinguish between the hospital's gross charge and the actual amount billed to you. If you receive a balance bill for the difference between the provider's full list price and your insurance allowed amount, you may have protections under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, you should request a detailed itemized statement to verify that all charges are accurate and that no services were unbundled or double-billed. If you are paying out of pocket, ask the billing department about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50% if settled within 30 days, ensuring you are not paying the full