X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $235
- Cash Discount Price: $255
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.64x 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 264% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 164%). 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 | $89 - $331 | 100% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $124 | 139% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $201 - $281 | 226% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $212 - $298 | 238% |
| First Health-All Plans | $212 - $298 | 238% |
| Aetna | $212 - $298 | 238% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $224 - $314 | 252% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $224 - $314 | 252% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $224 - $314 | 252% |
| Cigna | $234 - $328 | 263% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $234 - $328 | 263% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray, the facility in Beloit, KS, lists a gross charge of $284.00. While the facility's cash median rate is $255.00 and the median negotiated rate across insurance plans is $235.00, these figures are significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91. This indicates a markup of 2.6 times the Medicare rate, which is consistent with commercial pricing structures that often range from 200% to 300% of the federal baseline. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates frequently exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract dynamics, meaning paying out-of-pocket might result in lower out-of-pocket costs if the patient's insurance deductible has not yet been met.
Patients should verify whether their specific plan is in-network, as out-of-network care could theoretically trigger balance billing for the difference between the provider's full charge and the insurance allowed amount, though the No Surprises Act protects against this for emergency services at in-network facilities. To minimize costs, individuals should contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. Additionally, if a detailed itemized bill is received, consumers are encouraged to request a line-by-line audit to identify potential errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected through formal written disputes.