Chest X-ray Cost in Tri-Cities (Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol), TN

How much does a chest x-ray cost without insurance in Tri-Cities (Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol)?

Without insurance, the cash price for a two-view chest X-ray (HCPCS 71046) is $69.30 at all seven hospitals in the Tri-Cities area: Bristol Regional, Franklin Woods, Hawkins County Memorial, Holston Valley, Indian Path, Johnson City Medical Center, and Sycamore Shoals. The overall range is $69.30 to $69.30, so there is no difference between hospitals. Only one code is listed, so there is no variant to compare. These figures are facility fees, which cover the room, equipment, and technologist staff. Physician and professional fees, such as the radiologist's reading, are billed separately and are not included in these prices.

Why is the gross charge so much higher than the cash price?

The gross charge, or chargemaster price, is the full list price a hospital assigns to a service before negotiated discounts. At all seven hospitals, the gross charge for code 71046 is $462. The cash price of $69.30 is 15% of that amount, a discount of 85%. Almost no one pays the gross charge, because insurers negotiate lower rates and hospitals discount prices for self-pay patients. The gross charge functions mainly as a starting point for billing. Because every hospital lists the same gross charge and the same cash price, no hospital in this dataset has a larger percentage discount that still results in a higher cash price.

Does insurance cover a chest x-ray?

Coverage depends on your plan and on whether the exam meets the plan's medical necessity criteria. Payer rates for code 71046 vary widely: across 303 rates in this dataset, negotiated amounts range from $16.68 to $462. Some plans may require prior authorization for non-emergency imaging, and requirements differ by insurer. If you have a high-deductible health plan and have not met your deductible, you owe the negotiated rate for your plan, not the gross charge of $462. Once the deductible is met, cost sharing such as coinsurance or copays follows plan terms.

Are there additional fees beyond the chest x-ray facility charge?

Yes. The prices listed here are facility fees, which cover the imaging room, X-ray equipment, and technologist staff. A radiologist, the physician who interprets the images, typically bills a separate professional fee for reading the exam. That fee is not included in the facility price, and it is not part of the data on this page, so no dollar amount is given. If the X-ray is performed in an emergency department, a separate ER facility fee is also billed. Fees for other services during the same visit, such as an office visit with the ordering provider, are billed separately as well.

What is the cash price for a chest x-ray at Johnson City Medical Center?

Johnson City Medical Center publishes a cash price of $69.30 for CPT 71046 (Chest X-ray, 2 Views), against a gross charge of $462. The cash price is 15% of gross. This is a facility charge only, so separate fees such as a radiologist's reading are not included in this figure.

What is the lowest chest x-ray cash price in Tri-Cities, TN?

Across the 7 Ballad Health hospitals on this page, the lowest published cash price for 71046 is $69.30, and every hospital lists that same figure. All 7 rows have a cash price, so no data is missing. These are facility charges only and do not include other bills tied to the visit.

How much does Blue Cross TennCare pay for a chest x-ray at Bristol Regional Medical Center?

Bristol Regional Medical Center lists $16.68 for 71046 under both Blue Cross TennCare Blue Care and TennCare Blue Select. That is the lowest insured rate in the table. It is a facility charge only, and other charges for the same visit are not included.

What is the highest chest x-ray price in Johnson City, Kingsport or Bristol?

The highest published figure for 71046 is the $462 gross charge, which all 7 hospitals list. At Bristol Regional Medical Center, Wellcare Medicaid also shows $462 as an insured rate. These are facility charges only. Cash is listed at $69.30 at each hospital.

What is CPT code 71046 for chest x-rays in Kingsport and Tri-Cities?

71046 is the billing code for Chest X-ray, 2 Views, and it is the only code on this page. Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport lists a gross charge of $462 and cash price of $69.30 for it. Insured rates there run from $16.68 to $462. All figures are facility charges only.