X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $222
- Cash Discount Price: $434
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.50x 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 250% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 150%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Triwest - All Plans | $143 | 161% |
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $143 | 161% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $143 - $779 | 161% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $143 - $151 | 161% |
| Humana | $143 - $195 | 161% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $143 | 161% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $222 | 250% |
| Cigna | $239 | 269% |
| Aetna | $239 | 269% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $326 | 367% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $326 | 367% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $339 | 381% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $391 | 440% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 71046, representing a chest X-ray (two views), Amberwell Atchison Association in Atchison, KS, lists a cash price of $434.00. This cash rate is significantly higher than the state average of $213.00, which is also the median amount paid by commercial payers. While Medicare sets a benchmark of $88.91 for this service, commercial negotiated rates vary widely; for instance, UnitedHealthcare pays up to $779 across three plans, whereas Triwest and Superior Select Mcr Adv pay a flat $143. Because the cash price ($434.00) is lower than the highest negotiated rates found in this dataset, patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find paying out-of-pocket more cost-effective than relying on insurance, provided they qualify for the cash rate.
To ensure you are receiving the best possible price, it is crucial to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Although the facility is a voluntary non-profit Critical Access Hospital, patients should explicitly ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should verify their specific plan details and avoid signing consent waivers that might inadvertently waive these protections or agree to unexpected ancillary charges.