X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: St Luke Hospital & Living Center
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $143
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.61x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Va Ccn | $143 | 161% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $143 | 161% |
| Bluestem Pace | $143 | 161% |
| Kansas Department Of Health And Environment | $143 | 161% |
| Humana | $143 | 161% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $143 | 161% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $144 | 162% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray (two views), St Luke Hospital & Living Center in Marion, KS, has a gross charge of $280.00. The facility's negotiated rate is $143.00, which aligns exactly with the lowest and highest negotiated amounts observed across all seven payers, including UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. This negotiated rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, reflecting a markup of 160% compared to the federal baseline. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, the data does not provide specific cash or median paid values for this service, so direct comparisons to state or county averages for cash prices cannot be made from the available information.
Patients should be aware that while in-network insurance contracts cap charges at $143.00, this amount may still exceed the actual cost of care if the patient has a high deductible or is paying out-of-pocket. In such cases, paying the cash price directly could be more economical, provided the facility offers a self-pay or prompt-pay discount. Since the data does not list a specific cash price, it is essential to contact the hospital before scheduling to confirm if a self-pay rate exists and to request a waiver of insurance submission to avoid automatic claims processing. Additionally, because the facility is a Critical Access Hospital, patients should verify that ancillary services like lab work or imaging are also in-network to prevent unexpected balance billing, which is largely prohibited for emergency and non-emergency services at in-network facilities under federal law.