Culture, blood
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, Inc.
Billing Code: 87040 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 87040
- Insurance Median: $10
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.97x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Smarthealth | $9 - $14 | 87% |
| Vc Hope | $10 | 97% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $10 | 97% |
| Medicare (plans) | $10 - $11 | 97% |
| Via Christi Research | $10 | 97% |
| Humana | $10 | 97% |
| Va | $10 | 97% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $11 - $29 | 107% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $11 | 107% |
| Corizon | $13 | 126% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $18 | 174% |
| Aetna | $32 | 310% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $42 | 407% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 87040, representing a blood culture, the facility's negotiated rates range from $9 to $42 across 13 payers, with a median negotiated amount of $10.00. This compares directly to the Medicare benchmark of $10.32, indicating that the facility's average negotiated rate is essentially at the federal cost baseline rather than significantly higher. While commercial rates can sometimes exceed cash prices, the data shows no cash or median paid figures available for this service, suggesting that patients without insurance coverage should contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which often provide immediate fee reductions.
It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, unexpected charges can still occur if ancillary services like emergency physicians or specific lab components are billed separately. Patients should always request a full, itemized bill before paying to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as summary bills can obscure these errors. Given that the facility is a voluntary non-profit in Wichita, KS, and the rates align closely with Medicare, there is little room for markup, but verifying the exact classification of the service as self-pay prior to scheduling remains the most effective way to secure the lowest possible cost.