Price Checker / CPT 71045
How much does Chest X-ray (single view) cost?
CPT 71045 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 17x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$40–$75
What this should cost
With insurance
~$69,600
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$95
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $1,027 is $967 over the fair price (about 17x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Chest X-ray (single view)
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson-Madison County General Hospital JACKSON, TN | — | $113 | 16314% |
| WTH Bolivar Hospital , TN | — | $113 | 16314% |
| WTH Camden Hospital , TN | — | $113 | 16314% |
| WTH Milan Hospital , TN | — | $113 | 16314% |
| Stonewall Jackson Hospital , WV | $1,643 | $821 | 6372% |
| EHHS Fulton Square Clinic , WI | $604 | $441 | 2280% |
| Bucktail Medical Center RENOVO, PA | $382 | $344 | 1405% |
| Kearney County Hospital , NE | $332 | $266 | 1208% |
| Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute Harrisburg, PA | $411 | — | 1196% |
| Pawnee County Memorial Hospital PAWNEE CITY, NE | $281 | $225 | 1007% |
| Gracie Square Hospital New York, NY | $600 | — | 972% |
| Rosebud Health Care Center FORSYTH, MT | $272 | $272 | 971% |
| Dallas County Medical Center FORDYCE, AR | $245 | $245 | 864% |
| Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics , WA | $222 | $178 | 777% |
| Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital , WV | $194 | $97 | 665% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About Chest X-ray (single view)
CPT code 71045 refers to chest x-ray (single view) (billing description: "X-ray exam chest 1 view"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $25 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $25 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.