Culture, blood
Facility: Labette Health
Billing Code: 87040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 87040
- Insurance Median: $12
- Cash Discount Price: $66
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.16x 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 $10.32 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $10 - $38 | 97% |
| Multiplan | $10 - $136 | 97% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $10 | 97% |
| Wellcare | $10 | 97% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $10 - $139 | 97% |
| Humana | $10 | 97% |
| Healthy Blue | $10 | 97% |
| Uhccp | $10 | 97% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $12 | 116% |
| Montgomery County | $19 - $53 | 184% |
| Choicecare (First Health Network) | $144 | 1395% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas, Inc | $144 | 1395% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood culture service at Labette Health in Parsons, KS, the facility's cash payment rate of $66.00 is significantly lower than the state average, which sits at $94.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like UnitedHealthcare and Multiplan range from $10 to $139, these amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying cash upfront. It is important to note that the facility is a government-owned local hospital, and while the Medicare benchmark for this code is $10.32, the cash rate of $66.00 reflects the actual cost of delivery rather than a markup. Patients should verify if their specific insurance plan has a deductible that would make the negotiated rate more expensive than the cash option.
To minimize unexpected costs, consumers should proactively ask the billing department about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within 30 days. Since hospitals save on administrative processing fees when patients pay directly, these upfront discounts are often available even for in-network services. Additionally, because the No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, patients should not pay surprise bills immediately; instead, they should request a formal, itemized audit of their statement to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered. Always confirm the exact classification of the service and any applicable self-pay discounts before scheduling to ensure you are not inadvertently triggering insurance claims that void potential cash savings.