Price Checker / CPT 71260
How much does CT scan — chest (with contrast) cost?
CPT 71260 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 12x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$250–$500
What this should cost
With insurance
~$81,900
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$630
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $4,381 is $4,001 over the fair price (about 12x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for CT scan — chest (with contrast)
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Muskogee Muskogee, OK | $9,346 | — | 5507% |
| Solara Specialty Hospitals Brownsville Brownsville, TX | $9,346 | — | 5507% |
| Solara Specialty Hospitals Harlingen Harlingen, TX | $9,346 | — | 5507% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Conroe Conroe, TX | $7,835 | — | 4601% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Little Rock Little Rock, AR | $7,835 | — | 4601% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Austin Austin, TX | $7,835 | — | 4601% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Bossier City Bossier City, LA | $7,835 | — | 4601% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington Huntington, WV | $7,835 | — | 4601% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Round Rock Round Rock, TX | $7,835 | — | 4601% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Southwest Louisiana Lake Charles, LA | $7,835 | — | 4601% |
| Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals West Monroe West Monroe, LA | $7,835 | — | 4601% |
| Solara Specialty Hospital Mcallen Mc Allen, TX | $7,835 | — | 4601% |
| Kindred Hospital Bay Area - St. Petersburg St. Petersburg, FL | $6,543 | — | 3826% |
| Kindred Hospital Bay Area - Tampa Tampa, FL | $6,543 | — | 3826% |
| Kindred Hospital Central Tampa Tampa, FL | $6,543 | — | 3826% |
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 CT scan — chest (with contrast)
CPT code 71260 refers to ct scan — chest (with contrast) (billing description: "Ct thorax dx c+"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $167 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $167 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.