X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $310
- Cash Discount Price: $564
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.49x 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 349% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 249%). 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 | $159 | 179% |
| Humana | $282 | 317% |
| Tricare | $282 | 317% |
| Medicare (plans) | $285 | 321% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $310 | 349% |
| Coventry - All Other Plans | $508 | 571% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas - All Plans | $536 | 603% |
| Preferred Healthcare-All Plans | $536 | 603% |
| Wppa/Providers Care-All Plans | $790 | 889% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray (two views), Memorial Hospital in Abilene, KS, lists a cash price of $564.00. This cash rate is identical to the facility's gross charge and serves as the baseline for self-pay patients. While the facility's negotiated rates with insurance payers range from $159 to $790, the cash price can be a strategic option for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, as it avoids the administrative markup inherent in commercial billing cycles. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to the costs of claims processing and contract management; therefore, patients with high deductibles may find paying the full cash price upfront to be more financially advantageous than relying on insurance reimbursement, provided they have not yet met their deductible threshold.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against the Medicare rate of $88.91, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating healthcare costs in this region. The cash price of $564.00 represents a 3.5x markup over the Medicare amount, while the median negotiated rate across payers is $310.00. Patients should be aware that hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual line items, making it difficult to identify errors or unbundled charges. To ensure accuracy and reduce potential debt, consumers should request a full itemized CPT-coded bill before finalizing payment. Additionally, Memorial Hospital, operating as a Critical Access Hospital, may offer prompt-pay discounts for upfront cash payments, which can further reduce the final amount owed by bypassing the standard insurance billing cycle.