X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Clay County Medical Center
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $19
- Cash Discount Price: $148
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.21x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplan- All Plans | $10 - $262 | 11% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $13 - $262 | 15% |
| Wppa/Providrs Care- All Plans | $18 - $257 | 20% |
| Aetna | $18 - $257 | 20% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $19 - $262 | 21% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray with two views, Clay County Medical Center lists a cash price of $148.00, which matches the cash median for this service. This cash rate is significantly lower than the facility's negotiated rates, which range from $10 to $262 across five payers including UnitedHealthcare and Aetna. While commercial insurance contracts often cap payments at these negotiated levels, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the $148.00 cash price directly more cost-effective than facing a negotiated rate that exceeds their deductible. It is important to note that the facility, a Critical Access Hospital in Clay Center, KS, has a government-local ownership structure, and patients should explicitly ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling to ensure they are not billed the full chargemaster amount.
The facility's cash rate of $148.00 is notably higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, reflecting the standard markup found in commercial healthcare pricing where negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare amounts. However, the data indicates a median paid amount of $101.00, suggesting that many insurance plans negotiate rates closer to the cash price than the maximum contracted amounts listed. Consumers should be aware of balance billing risks if they receive care from out-of-network providers, though the No Surprises Act protects emergency services at in-network facilities. To avoid unexpected costs, patients should request an itemized bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills