Blood test, basic metabolic panel
Facility: University Of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus
Billing Code: 80048 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80048
- Insurance Median: $69
- Cash Discount Price: $50
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.16x 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 $8.46 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 816% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 716%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lucent Health [6000] | $69 | 816% |
| Black Lung [6055] | $69 | 816% |
| Healthcare Highways [2210] | $69 | 816% |
| Web Tpa [2115] | $69 | 816% |
| Aetna | $69 | 816% |
| Hooray Health [8000] | $69 | 816% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $69 | 816% |
| Oncology Patient Assistance Programs [2295] | $69 | 816% |
| Department Of Corrections [1340] | $84 | 993% |
| Cigna | $97 | 1147% |
| Healthpartners [1500] | $97 | 1147% |
| American Postal Workers Union [1070] | $97 | 1147% |
| National Association Of Letter Carriers [1695] | $97 | 1147% |
| Humana | $99 | 1170% |
| Multiplan [1680] | $130 | 1537% |
| American Healthcare [1055] | $130 | 1537% |
| First Health [1375] | $130 | 1537% |
| Administrative Concepts [1005] | $130 | 1537% |
| Coventry Healthcare [1320] | $137 | 1619% |
| Ks Disability Determination [6090] | $167 | 1974% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the basic metabolic panel blood test at the University of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus, the facility's cash median price of $50.00 is significantly lower than the state average of $167.00. While many commercial payers have negotiated rates ranging from $69 to $167, the cash price offers a substantial alternative for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance. It is important to note that cash-pay can sometimes be cheaper than insurance reimbursement if the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price, so patients should always ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling. These discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50%, are incentives for upfront payment that bypass the administrative costs of claims processing and reduce the risk of bad debt.
The facility's negotiated rates vary widely across different insurers, with the lowest being $69 and the highest at $167, reflecting the complex dynamics of insurance contracts and network tiers. Although the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital in Topeka, KS, patients should be aware that balance billing can occur if services are rendered by out-of-network providers, even at an in-network facility. To avoid unexpected costs, consumers should request an itemized billing audit to verify that all charges are accurate and that no services were unbundled or double-billed. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, obtaining a detailed, line-by-line statement is the most effective way to ensure you are only paying for what was actually provided.