X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Smith County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $218
- Cash Discount Price: $232
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.45x 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 245% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 145%). 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 | $149 | 168% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $162 - $232 | 182% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $208 | 234% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $218 | 245% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $220 | 247% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $220 | 247% |
| Health Partners Of Ks Ppo-All Plans | $220 | 247% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the X-ray, chest (two views) procedure at Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, KS, the cash price is $232.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rate for Medicaid/KanCare and the gross charge. This cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $88.91, reflecting a markup of 2.5 times the federal rate. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, the data indicates that the negotiated rates for commercial payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Multiplan-All Plans range from $149 to $232, with a median paid amount of $218.00. Patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price of $232.00 more affordable than their insurance negotiated rate of $218.00 if they have not yet met their deductible, as paying out-of-pocket avoids the administrative overhead and potential co-pays associated with the insurance process.
To minimize costs, patients should verify if the hospital offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing expensive claims processing. It is important to request a formal, itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that can be disputed in writing. Although the facility is in-network for several payers, patients should confirm their specific plan's allowed amount to ensure they are not subject to balance billing, which is prohibited for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities