Blood test, vitamin D
Facility: Mcpherson Hospital
Billing Code: 82306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82306
- Insurance Median: $223
- Cash Discount Price: $215
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.53x 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 $29.6 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 753% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 653%). 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 | $26 | 88% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $30 | 101% |
| Wellcare Mcr Adv - All Plans | $30 | 101% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $30 - $399 | 101% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $30 | 101% |
| Humana | $30 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $30 | 101% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $34 | 115% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $52 - $279 | 176% |
| Central Plains - All Plans | $56 - $299 | 189% |
| Medical Associates - All Plans | $56 - $299 | 189% |
| Christian Health Aid - All Plans | $59 - $319 | 199% |
| Aetna | $61 - $399 | 206% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $67 - $359 | 226% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $70 - $379 | 236% |
| Cigna | $70 - $379 | 236% |
| First Health - All Plans | $70 - $379 | 236% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $74 - $399 | 250% |
| Health Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $75 - $407 | 253% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82306, representing a blood test for vitamin D, McPherson Hospital in McPherson, KS, lists a gross charge of $291.00. While the facility's cash median rate is $215.00, which is lower than the state average of $230.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying out-of-pocket is more cost-effective than relying on insurance. This is because many commercial payers, such as UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, have negotiated rates that can exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead and contract structures. For instance, the median negotiated amount across all payers is $223.00, and specific plans like WPPA and Central Plains have negotiated ranges extending up to $299.00 and $299.00 respectively, which are higher than the cash rate.
It is important to note that while the facility's cash rate is competitive, the presence of balance billing risks exists if a patient receives care from out-of-network providers or ancillary services not covered by their plan. Under the No Surprises Act, patients are protected from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, but they should still verify their network status and request a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before scheduling. Additionally, patients should demand an itemized billing audit to ensure no errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered are included in the final invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors. By comparing the Medicare amount of $29.60 against the commercial rates, it becomes clear that the facility