CPT
70450 — CT scan of head/brain without contrast
Same scan can cost 5x more at a hospital than at an imaging center.
Imaging
71045 — Chest X-ray, single view
One-view chest X-ray. Simple, low-cost in most settings — but hospital pricing can be 5-10x freestanding.
- Typical setting: Hospital outpatient or imaging center
- National avg charge (illustrative): Insurance allowed $40-$120; cash freestanding $50-$200; hospital $200-$1,200.
- Most-disputed reason: Hospital pricing several multiples of freestanding rate.
What it means
What 71045 actually means
CPT 71045 is a single-view chest X-ray. It includes the technical component (the image itself) and a separate professional component (the radiologist's read).
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Hospital outpatient pricing 5-10x freestanding rate for the identical image.
- Both technical and professional components billed at hospital rates when the patient was actually scanned at a freestanding center.
- Out-of-network radiologist balance billing when the facility was in-network.
If you see 71045 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 71045 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
70470 — CT head/brain with and without contrast
If contrast wasn't given, 70470 is the wrong code.
CPT
70486 — CT maxillofacial area; without contrast material
Imaging — verify professional + technical components weren't double-billed.
CPT
70551 — MRI brain without contrast
Same scan can be 5x cheaper at a freestanding imaging center.
CPT
71046 — Chest X-ray, two views (PA + lateral)
Two-view CXR is standard. Watch the price gap between hospital and freestanding.
CPT
71250 — CT thorax ; without contrast material
Imaging — verify professional + technical components weren't double-billed.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 71045 on a bill.
71045 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
Why does a chest X-ray cost so much at the hospital?
Hospital outpatient pricing rules let facilities charge dramatically higher rates than freestanding imaging centers for identical studies. For elective imaging, you usually have the right to choose where it's performed.
Don't pay 71045 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.