X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Scott County Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $289
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.25x 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 325% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 225%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $49 - $305 | 55% |
| Humana | $135 | 152% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $151 | 170% |
| Wppa | $193 - $1,200 | 217% |
| Aetna | $289 | 325% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray with two views, Scott County Hospital's negotiated rates range from $49 to $1,200 depending on the insurance carrier, with a median negotiated amount of $289.00. This facility, a Critical Access Hospital in Scott City, KS, charges significantly more than the state average, which is 3.3 times the Medicare benchmark rate of $88.91. While commercial insurance contracts set a ceiling on what payers like UnitedHealthcare and Humana will reimburse, these rates often exceed what a patient could pay out-of-pocket. For individuals with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price directly may result in lower out-of-pocket costs if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the facility's cash price, though the cash median is not currently available for this service.
Patients should proactively contact the hospital before scheduling to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing administrative claim processing fees. It is important to verify your specific plan's deductible status, as using insurance before meeting your deductible can lead to higher costs than expected. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, you should always request a detailed, itemized bill to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are included. If you receive a summary bill, ask for a full line-by-line statement to identify any discrepancies before making a payment.