X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Smith County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $178
- Cash Discount Price: $190
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.00x 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 200% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 100%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $122 | 137% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $133 - $190 | 150% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $171 | 192% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $178 | 200% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $180 | 202% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $180 | 202% |
| Health Partners Of Ks Ppo-All Plans | $180 | 202% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71045, representing a chest X-ray at Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, KS, the cash price is $190.00. This cash rate aligns exactly with the facility's negotiated median paid amount of $178.00 and the gross charge of $190.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more favorable than their insurance negotiated rates, which range from $122 to $190 across seven payers. Specifically, Medicaid/KanCare plans show a wide variance between a low of $122 and a high of $190, whereas other major payers like UnitedHealthcare and Multiplan-All Plans have fixed negotiated rates of $180.00.
To minimize out-of-pocket costs, patients should proactively request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. It is important to note that the facility's cash price of $190.00 is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, indicating a markup typical of commercial billing structures. However, since the cash price exceeds the lowest negotiated rates found in this dataset (such as the $122 low end for Medicaid/KanCare), patients with specific insurance plans may still pay less by utilizing their coverage rather than paying cash. Always verify your specific plan's allowed amount with the hospital prior to service to ensure you are not subject to balance billing or unexpected charges.