Culture, bacterial
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Billing Code: 87070 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 87070
- Insurance Median: $9
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.04x 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 $8.62 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 | $8 - $12 | 93% |
| Medicare (plans) | $9 | 104% |
| Va | $9 | 104% |
| Humana | $9 | 104% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $9 - $24 | 104% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $9 | 104% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $9 | 104% |
| Vc Hope | $9 | 104% |
| Via Christi Research | $9 | 104% |
| Corizon | $11 | 128% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $15 | 174% |
| Aetna | $27 | 313% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $35 | 406% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 87070, representing a bacterial culture, the facility Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc. has a median negotiated rate of $9.00 across 13 payers, which aligns exactly with the Medicare benchmark of $8.62. This indicates that the facility's commercial rates are not marked up significantly above the federal government's cost-based standard. While the data does not provide a specific cash or self-pay price, patients with high-deductible plans should be aware that paying out-of-pocket might be more cost-effective if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. 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% when paid in full upfront, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.
The facility is located in Wichita, Kansas (ZIP 67214), and while the provided data does not include specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure, the consistency of the negotiated rate with the Medicare amount suggests fair pricing relative to the national baseline. Patients should be cautious of balance billing if they receive care from out-of-network providers, as the No Surprises Act generally protects against unexpected bills for emergency services and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. If a patient receives an itemized bill that appears higher than the $9.00 negotiated rate, they should request a full line-by-line audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected through a formal written dispute.