X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $191
- Cash Discount Price: $191
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.15x 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 215% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 115%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $110 | 124% |
| Tricare | $119 | 134% |
| Aetna | $140 - $202 | 157% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $140 - $225 | 157% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $140 - $225 | 157% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $140 | 157% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $153 | 172% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $206 | 232% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $214 | 241% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Plans | $225 | 253% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray with two views, Trego County Lemke Memorial Hospital in Wakeeney, KS, lists a cash median price of $191.00, which is notably higher than the state average of $140.00. While the facility's negotiated rates for in-network payers like Humana and Tricare range from $110 to $119, these amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning self-pay patients with high-deductible plans may save money by paying directly. It is important to note that Medicaid/KanCare and UnitedHealthcare plans have negotiated ranges starting at $140, which aligns with the cash rate, but patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling to ensure they are not paying more than necessary.
Patients should be aware that commercial insurance rates can sometimes include administrative markups that make them higher than the cash price, even for in-network services. If you receive a bill that appears to include balance billing for out-of-network ancillary services, you have the right to dispute it under the No Surprises Act, which prohibits surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, you should request a full itemized CPT-coded statement before paying, ensuring no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. Finally, ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, as paying upfront can often reduce the total cost by bypassing the administrative overhead of insurance claims processing.