X-ray, chest (two views)
Facility: Oakleaf Surgical Hospital
Billing Code: 71046 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71046
- Insurance Median: $86
- Cash Discount Price: $212
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.97x 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.
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 | $86 | 97% |
| Dean Health Plan | $86 | 97% |
| Group Health Cooperative Of Eau Claire | $86 | 97% |
| Healthpartners | $86 | 97% |
| Humana | $86 | 97% |
| Medica | $86 | 97% |
| Quartz Health Solutions | $86 | 97% |
| Security Health Plan Of Wi | $86 - $876 | 97% |
| Ucare Wi | $86 | 97% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $86 | 97% |
| Alliance | $216 | 243% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
Oakleaf Surgical Hospital, located at 1000 Oakleaf Way in Altoona, Wisconsin, offers a chest X-ray procedure (CPT 71046) with a published cash median price of $212 and a median negotiated rate of $86 among 11 payers. The facility is classified as an Acute Care Hospital with Physician ownership. For patients with high-deductible plans, the cash price of $212 may be more affordable than the negotiated rate of $86 if the insurance deductible has not yet been met, as paying out-of-network cash could result in a lower total out-of-pocket cost compared to the insurer's allowed amount.
The Medicare benchmark amount for this service is $88.91, which serves as the federal baseline for evaluating pricing fairness. While the facility's cash rate of $212 is higher than the Medicare amount, patients should verify if the insurance negotiated rate of $86 is accurate for their specific plan, as several carriers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Dean Health Plan list this exact rate. Consumers are encouraged to request an itemized billing audit before payment to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, and to inquire about prompt-pay discounts that could further reduce the final bill.