Blood antibody screen
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Billing Code: 86850 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 86850
- Insurance Median: $50
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.94x 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 $53.24 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Smarthealth | $7 - $69 | 13% |
| Aetna | $31 | 58% |
| Via Christi Research | $49 | 92% |
| Medicare (plans) | $49 - $50 | 92% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $49 | 92% |
| Humana | $49 | 92% |
| Vc Hope | $49 | 92% |
| Va | $49 | 92% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $50 | 94% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $50 - $138 | 94% |
| Corizon | $62 | 116% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $84 | 158% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 86850, "Blood antibody screen," at Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc., the facility's negotiated rates range from $7 to $138 across 12 different payers, with a median negotiated amount of $50.00. This facility is located in Wichita, Kansas (ZIP 67214), and operates as a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital. While specific cash and median paid values are not reported for this service, patients should be aware that cash-pay options can sometimes result in lower out-of-pocket costs than insurance negotiated rates, particularly for those with high-deductible plans where the insurer's allowed amount may exceed the cash price. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can significantly reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative processing fees and claims delays.
When evaluating this cost, it is important to compare rates against objective benchmarks rather than the hospital's inflated chargemaster list. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $53.24, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of delivery. Commercial negotiated rates often average between 200% and 300% of Medicare, though fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150% of this benchmark. In this case, the median negotiated rate of $50.00 is slightly below the Medicare amount of $53.24, indicating a rate that aligns closely with the federal cost basis. Patients should avoid accepting summary bills as final invoices and instead request a detailed, itemized statement to ensure no errors, unbundled codes, or services