Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Mcpherson Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $39
- Cash Discount Price: $53
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.82x 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 582% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 482%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tricare | $6 | 90% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $7 | 104% |
| Humana | $7 | 104% |
| Wellcare Mcr Adv - All Plans | $7 | 104% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $7 | 104% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $7 | 104% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $7 - $111 | 104% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $8 | 119% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $22 - $78 | 328% |
| Medical Associates - All Plans | $23 - $83 | 343% |
| Central Plains - All Plans | $23 - $83 | 343% |
| Christian Health Aid - All Plans | $25 - $89 | 373% |
| Aetna | $26 - $111 | 388% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $28 - $100 | 418% |
| Cigna | $29 - $105 | 433% |
| First Health - All Plans | $29 - $105 | 433% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $29 - $105 | 433% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $31 - $111 | 463% |
| Health Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $32 - $113 | 478% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood magnesium test at McPherson Hospital in McPherson, Kansas, the facility's cash price of $53.00 is notably higher than the state average, which sits at $38.00. While commercial insurance plans like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna negotiate rates ranging from $22 to $111, these figures often exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead and contract structures. Patients with high-deductible plans should consider paying the cash price directly, as it may be significantly lower than the negotiated rate their insurer would allow. To potentially lower costs further, it is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if settled upfront.
When evaluating the cost against the Medicare benchmark of $6.70, the facility's cash rate represents a substantial markup, a common practice in commercial billing where rates can average 200% to 300% of the Medicare amount. It is important to remember that comparing the cash price to the hospital's gross chargemaster list can be misleading, as the list price is inflated to make discounts appear larger; the most accurate comparison is always made against the Medicare rate. Additionally, if you have insurance, verify your deductible status before scheduling, as you may be responsible for the full negotiated amount if you have not yet met your out-of-pocket threshold. Finally, ensure you receive a detailed, itemized bill rather than a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit.