CPT 71046: chest X-ray, 2 views. What Medicare pays and what to ask
A standard chest X-ray with two views. This page covers 71046, the Medicare rate and the questions to ask about imaging charges.
What this code means
CPT 71046 is a chest X-ray with two views, usually front and side.
A single-view chest X-ray uses a different code, 71045.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
The Medicare rate shown here is the global amount: the equipment and technician part plus the radiologist's reading. Bills often split these into separate charges from the hospital and from the radiology group, so compare the total of both.
Hospital outpatient imaging can carry additional facility charges.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $165.35 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $330.70 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $661.40 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- Was it a one-view or a two-view X-ray?
- Is there a separate charge from the radiology group for the reading?
- Is the X-ray billed once for this visit?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (CMS, July 2026 release), national payment amount, non-facility setting. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.