Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Salina Regional Health Center
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $118
- Cash Discount Price: $92
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.66x Medicare
Average discount available for prompt cash payment at this facility.
Median negotiated contract rate across all mapped commercial carriers.
Standard federal government reimbursement rate for this code.
Visual Cost Comparison vs. Medicare
Understanding this gauge: We use the federal Medicare rate of $13.63 as the cost baseline. Rates below the baseline represent excellent value. In-network commercial rates commonly hover around 150% - 250% of Medicare, while rates exceeding 300% are elevated. Hover over the green and blue markers to view detailed calculations.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 866% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 766%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimator
Estimate whether it is more economical to use your insurance or pay the upfront self-pay cash rate.
Commercial Insurance Negotiated Rates
Negotiated contract ranges established by major commercial carriers at this facility.
| Carrier / Plan Group | Contract Rate Range | vs. Medicare Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $33 - $35 | 242% |
| Preferred Phsic | $79 | 580% |
| Preferred Healthcare - All Other Plans | $107 | 785% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $118 | 866% |
| Aetna | $118 | 866% |
| Cigna | $118 | 866% |
| Multiplan (Mpi)-All Plans | $118 | 866% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test procedure for ferritin (iron stores) at Salina Regional Health Center in Salina, KS, the facility's cash median price of $92.00 is notably lower than the state average, which sits at $107.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with major insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna range from $33 to $118, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more advantageous if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds $92.00. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and can be higher than cash prices; therefore, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can significantly lower the final cost.
This specific CPT code is subject to balance billing risks if care is received from out-of-network providers, though the No Surprises Act protects patients from such surprise bills for emergency and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure accuracy, patients should request a full itemized billing audit rather than accepting summary bills, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that can inflate the total. When evaluating the facility's pricing, it is more accurate to compare the final allowed amount against the Medicare benchmark of $13.63 rather than the gross chargemaster price of $132.00, as Medicare rates represent a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of delivery.