Blood test, magnesium
Facility: University Of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $47
- Cash Discount Price: $34
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.01x 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 $6.7 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 701% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 601%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Black Lung [6055] | $47 | 701% |
| Hooray Health [8000] | $47 | 701% |
| Oncology Patient Assistance Programs [2295] | $47 | 701% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $47 | 701% |
| Aetna | $47 | 701% |
| Web Tpa [2115] | $47 | 701% |
| Lucent Health [6000] | $47 | 701% |
| Healthcare Highways [2210] | $47 | 701% |
| Department Of Corrections [1340] | $57 | 851% |
| American Postal Workers Union [1070] | $66 | 985% |
| National Association Of Letter Carriers [1695] | $66 | 985% |
| Cigna | $66 | 985% |
| Healthpartners [1500] | $66 | 985% |
| Humana | $67 | 1000% |
| American Healthcare [1055] | $89 | 1328% |
| Multiplan [1680] | $89 | 1328% |
| First Health [1375] | $89 | 1328% |
| Administrative Concepts [1005] | $89 | 1328% |
| Coventry Healthcare [1320] | $94 | 1403% |
| Ks Disability Determination [6090] | $114 | 1701% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 83735 (Blood test, magnesium), the University of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus in Topeka, KS, lists a gross charge of $114.00. This amount is significantly higher than the facility's cash median of $34.00, which could result in substantial balance billing for patients with out-of-network insurance or high-deductible plans. While the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital, the negotiated rates for in-network payers range from $47.00 to $114.00, with many plans settling at the full gross amount. Patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics, meaning paying out-of-pocket might be more cost-effective if the insurance allowed amount matches the gross charge.
To avoid unexpected costs, consumers should request a prompt-pay discount before scheduling, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% for upfront payment. It is also critical to demand a full itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. When comparing prices, patients should use the Medicare benchmark of $6.70 as the objective baseline for fair pricing, noting that the facility's gross charge represents a significant markup. Additionally, since the No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, patients should verify their network status and refuse to sign waivers that could expose them to out-of-network costs for mandatory ancillary services.