Culture, bacterial
Facility: University Of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus
Billing Code: 87070 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 87070
- Insurance Median: $26
- Cash Discount Price: $19
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.02x 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 $8.62 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 302% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 202%). 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] | $26 | 302% |
| Oncology Patient Assistance Programs [2295] | $26 | 302% |
| Hooray Health [8000] | $26 | 302% |
| Aetna | $26 | 302% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $26 | 302% |
| Black Lung [6055] | $26 | 302% |
| Web Tpa [2115] | $26 | 302% |
| Healthcare Highways [2210] | $26 | 302% |
| Department Of Corrections [1340] | $32 | 371% |
| American Postal Workers Union [1070] | $37 | 429% |
| Cigna | $37 | 429% |
| National Association Of Letter Carriers [1695] | $37 | 429% |
| Healthpartners [1500] | $37 | 429% |
| Humana | $38 | 441% |
| American Healthcare [1055] | $50 | 580% |
| First Health [1375] | $50 | 580% |
| Multiplan [1680] | $50 | 580% |
| Administrative Concepts [1005] | $50 | 580% |
| Coventry Healthcare [1320] | $53 | 615% |
| Ks Disability Determination [6090] | $64 | 742% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the bacterial culture service (CPT 87070) at the University of Kansas Health System - St Francis Campus in Topeka, the facility's cash price of $19.00 is significantly lower than the median negotiated rate of $26.00 paid by most insurance plans. While the facility's cash rate is also lower than the state average of $64.00, patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find the cash price more affordable than their specific insurance coverage, which often includes administrative fees that inflate the allowed amount. It is important to note that while the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital, the cash price does not guarantee the lowest possible cost, as some commercial payers may negotiate rates that exceed the cash-pay amount.
Patients should be aware that the facility's cash rate of $19.00 is also lower than the Medicare benchmark of $8.62 when adjusted for the facility's specific cost structure, though the gross chargemaster price of $64.00 represents the full list price before any discounts. To minimize out-of-pocket expenses, individuals should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront. Additionally, if a patient receives an itemized bill that includes unexpected charges for out-of-network ancillary services, they should request a formal itemized audit to identify errors or unbundled codes, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be resolved through written dispute.