Blood test, magnesium
Facility: St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $31
- Cash Discount Price: $37
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.63x 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 463% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 363%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $6 - $57 | 90% |
| Aetna | $7 - $78 | 104% |
| Kansas Health | $7 | 104% |
| Devoted Health | $7 | 104% |
| Kaiser | $7 - $27 | 104% |
| Innovage | $7 | 104% |
| Medicare (plans) | $7 | 104% |
| Humana | $7 | 104% |
| Cigna | $7 - $9 | 104% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $7 - $31 | 104% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $8 | 119% |
| United Colorado Doctor'S Plan | $10 | 149% |
| Direct To Employer | $12 - $39 | 179% |
| Denver Health | $23 | 343% |
| Peak Health | $38 | 567% |
| Wpaa | $40 - $65 | 597% |
| Christian Health Aid | $46 - $74 | 687% |
| Multiplan | $51 - $86 | 761% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $55 - $90 | 821% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test, magnesium (CPT 83735), the facility's cash median price is $37.00, which is significantly lower than the state average of $96.00. While commercial insurance plans like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna negotiate rates ranging from $6 to $78, these negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying self-pay directly. To secure the lowest possible rate, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can bypass the administrative costs and inflated negotiated rates associated with insurance billing.
It is important to understand that the facility's gross charge of $93.00 is a maximum list price, not the amount you will likely pay. Under federal protections like the No Surprises Act, balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities is generally prohibited, though patients should still verify if any ancillary services are out-of-network. Furthermore, the Medicare benchmark of $6.70 serves as a reliable baseline for fair pricing; commercial rates are often marked up significantly above this federal standard. If you receive a bill that does not match the negotiated or cash rates, you should request a detailed, itemized audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected through formal written disputes.