X-ray, chest (single view)
Facility: Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 71045 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 71045
- Insurance Median: $870
- Cash Discount Price: $208
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.79x 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 979% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 879%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Associates Health Plan - Tri | $870 | 979% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this chest X-ray procedure at Regional Medical Center in Manchester, Iowa, the cash price is $208, which is significantly lower than the facility's negotiated rate of $870 paid by Medical Associates Health Plan - Tri. While the facility is a government-owned Critical Access Hospital with a high rating of 4, patients with high-deductible plans might find paying the cash price of $208 more advantageous than relying on insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount of $97 is less than the cash rate. It is important to note that the cash price is also lower than the gross chargemaster rate of $261, and patients should always ask the hospital directly about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling to ensure they are receiving the best possible rate.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $88.91, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing structure. The cash price of $208 exceeds the Medicare amount by 9.8%, indicating a markup above the federal government's fixed reimbursement rate, though it remains substantially below the commercial negotiated rate of $870. When reviewing your bill, be aware that summary invoices may obscure individual charges, so requesting an itemized CPT-coded statement can help identify any errors, double-billing, or unbundled codes that should not be charged. If you receive a balance bill for the difference between the provider's full rate and what your insurance pays, do not pay it immediately; instead, dispute the charge with your insurer and request a No Surprises Act audit to protect yourself from unexpected costs.