Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $2
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.84x 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 $2.37 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vc Hope | $2 | 84% |
| Medicare (plans) | $2 | 84% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $2 | 84% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $2 - $7 | 84% |
| Smarthealth | $2 - $3 | 84% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $2 | 84% |
| Humana | $2 | 84% |
| Via Christi Research | $2 | 84% |
| Va | $2 | 84% |
| Corizon | $3 | 127% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $4 | 169% |
| Aetna | $7 | 295% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $10 | 422% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, hemoglobin (CPT 85018) at Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc., the facility's negotiated rate of $2.00 is lower than the Medicare benchmark of $2.37, indicating a discount relative to the federal baseline. While the data does not provide a specific cash or state/county average for this procedure, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price directly could result in lower out-of-pocket costs if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can inflate the baseline price, so comparing directly to the Medicare rate provides a more accurate view of the facility's pricing structure than looking at the hospital's full chargemaster list.
This service is covered under 13 different payers, including major networks like UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, as well as government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Because this is an in-network facility, the No Surprises Act generally protects patients from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at this location, though patients should still verify that all ancillary services, such as specific lab components, are billed correctly. To minimize costs, patients should request a full itemized bill to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, and they should ask about prompt-pay discounts or self-pay rates before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can significantly reduce the final amount owed.