Blood test, potassium
Facility: Stormont Vail Hospital
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $8
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.68x 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ambetter / Centene | $4 | 84% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $4 - $10 | 84% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $4 | 84% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for potassium (CPT 84132) at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS, the commercial negotiated rates range from $4 to $10, with a median paid amount of $4,539.00. This facility is a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital located in Topeka, Kansas, and its pricing is benchmarked against the national average. While the specific county or state average for this procedure is not provided in the current data, the facility's commercial rates are significantly higher than the Medicare amount of $4.76, reflecting a markup of 1.7 times the Medicare rate. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract structures that can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40% compared to the true cost of care.
Patients should be aware that cash-pay options may offer a lower total cost than the insurance negotiated rate, particularly for those with high-deductible plans. Although the cash median is not listed in the provided data, patients are encouraged to directly contact the hospital to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can range from 20% to 50% off the billed amount. Additionally, if a patient receives an itemized bill, they should request a full line-by-line audit to identify potential errors, such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes. Disputing these errors via certified mail to the billing supervisor is the most effective way to reduce medical debt, rather than accepting summary bills or settling verbal disputes.