Blood test, basic metabolic panel
Facility: Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, Inc
Billing Code: 80048 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80048
- Insurance Median: $9
- Cash Discount Price: $29
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.06x 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 $8.46 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Providrs Care | $8 | 95% |
| Medicare (plans) | $8 - $9 | 95% |
| Humana | $8 - $9 | 95% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $8 - $24 | 95% |
| Va | $8 | 95% |
| Smarthealth | $9 - $12 | 106% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $9 | 106% |
| Aetna | $9 | 106% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $14 | 165% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $50 - $78 | 591% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 80048, representing a basic metabolic panel at Ascension Via Christi Hospital Manhattan, the cash median price is $29.00. This cash rate is notably lower than the facility's negotiated rates, which range from $8.46 for Medicare to $9.00 for Medicaid/KanCare, and can reach up to $78.00 for some Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. While the facility is located in Manhattan, Kansas (ZIP 66502), the provided data does not include specific county or state average benchmarks for comparison. However, the facility's self-pay cash price of $29.00 may offer significant savings for patients with high-deductible plans where the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash amount, or for those who can pay upfront. Patients are encouraged to verify "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts directly with the hospital before scheduling, as these programs can further reduce the final cost.
The facility's pricing structure reflects standard commercial billing dynamics where negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. For this specific service, the Medicare benchmark amount is $8.46, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The cash price of $29.00 represents a reasonable alternative to the higher negotiated amounts seen with major payers like UnitedHealthcare (ranging from $8 to $24 plans) and Blue Cross Blue Shield (ranging from $50 to $78 plans). To ensure you are receiving the most accurate pricing, it is advisable to request an itemized bill that details the exact CPT codes and unit costs, avoiding summary bills that may