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CPT 71047: Chest Radiograph, Minimum Three Views
CPT code 71047 denotes a diagnostic chest radiograph requiring at least three radiographic views. This multi‑view chest X‑ray is used to evaluate the lungs, pleura, heart silhouette, and nearby thoracic structures when single or two‑view studies are insufficient. Nationally, chest radiography remains a high‑volume imaging service important for acute and chronic respiratory conditions, trauma assessment, and preprocedural evaluation.
Key payers included in this coverage overview are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an explanation of the clinical purpose of the service, typical sites of service, common indications, and how 71047 relates to adjacent chest radiography codes such as 71045, 71046, and 71048.
The publication summarizes billing and coding context relevant to providers and billing staff, highlights common clinical scenarios that prompt a three‑view study, and outlines how the procedure fits into diagnostic workflows. It also identifies typical payers addressed in comparative coverage and reimbursement discussions. Data not available in the input prevents reporting of payer‑specific reimbursement rates or utilization benchmarks.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 71047 describes a diagnostic radiologic examination of the chest that includes a minimum of three views. The procedure is performed to assess conditions affecting the chest, its contents (such as the lungs and heart), and adjacent structures.
Service Type: Diagnostic radiology — chest X‑ray, multi‑view
Typical Site of Service: Outpatient radiology departments, hospital radiology suites, and ambulatory imaging centers
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Medicare’s mean payment of $28.5 for CPT 71047 sits well below BUCA’s average commercial mean of $78.9, indicating that commercial reimbursement for this code is roughly $50.4 higher than the federal baseline. This gap underscores the typical divergence between Medicare and commercial rates for diagnostic imaging services.
Examining dispersion via the interquartile spread (P75 minus P25) highlights variability across payers: Blue Cross Blue Shield shows a spread of $30.0 ($122.0 - $90.7), UnitedHealth Group has $24.7 ($48.6 - $22.9), Cigna has $30.1 ($57.2 - $24.1), Aetna is $19.0 ($38.1 - $18.2), and BUCA’s spread is $29.1 ($90.2 - $61.1). Aetna is the tightest payer by this measure, while Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna are among the widest, with BUCA also demonstrating substantial commercial dispersion.