Blood test, potassium
Facility: St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $16
- Cash Discount Price: $26
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.36x 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 $4.76 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 336% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 236%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $5 | 105% |
| Cigna | $5 - $6 | 105% |
| Kansas Health | $5 | 105% |
| Kaiser | $5 - $23 | 105% |
| Medicare (plans) | $5 | 105% |
| Devoted Health | $5 | 105% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $5 - $27 | 105% |
| Innovage | $5 | 105% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $5 - $16 | 105% |
| Aetna | $5 - $37 | 105% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $6 | 126% |
| United Colorado Doctor'S Plan | $7 | 147% |
| Direct To Employer | $8 - $34 | 168% |
| Denver Health | $20 | 420% |
| Wpaa | $30 | 630% |
| Peak Health | $33 | 693% |
| Christian Health Aid | $35 | 735% |
| Multiplan | $39 - $72 | 819% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $42 | 882% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For a blood test for potassium at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, Kansas, the cash median price is $26.00, which is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $64.00. While the hospital's negotiated rates with insurance payers range from $5.00 to $42.00 depending on the plan, the cash price remains the lowest fixed amount listed. Patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price upfront is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash rate. To maximize savings, it is recommended to ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling the visit, as these upfront fee reductions can further lower the total cost by bypassing administrative processing fees.
The facility's pricing is evaluated against federal benchmarks, with the Medicare allowed amount for this service set at $4.76. The cash price of $26.00 represents a markup of 3.4 times the Medicare rate, which is consistent with commercial pricing structures where negotiated rates typically range from 200% to 300% of Medicare. Although the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned hospital, the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this specific code. Consumers should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, patients should still request an itemized bill to verify that all charges are accurate and that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been included.