Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Providence Medical Center
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $14
- Cash Discount Price: $13
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.03x 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 $13.63 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare (plans) | $14 | 103% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $14 - $33 | 103% |
| Healthy Blue | $14 | 103% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $14 | 103% |
| Tricare | $14 | 103% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $14 - $22 | 103% |
| Midland Care Connection | $14 | 103% |
| Cigna | $14 | 103% |
| Celtic | $14 - $22 | 103% |
| Kansas Superior Select | $14 | 103% |
| Aetna | $14 - $25 | 103% |
| Corizon | $18 | 132% |
| Well Path Prison | $19 | 139% |
| Employer Direct Healthcare | $19 | 139% |
| Centurion | $20 | 147% |
| Naphcare | $21 | 154% |
| Comp Alliance - Fka Compresults Worker Compensation | $27 | 198% |
| Worker Compensation | $30 | 220% |
| Oha Networks | $30 | 220% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test for ferritin at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, KS, the facility's cash price of $13.00 is significantly lower than the state average, which sits at $151.00. While Medicare reimburses $13.63 for this service, the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare range from $14 to $33, often exceeding the cash price. This pricing structure highlights a common billing dynamic where commercial insurance contracts can result in higher out-of-pocket costs for patients with high deductibles compared to paying cash directly. To minimize expenses, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling and explicitly request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront.
Consumers should be aware that hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual charges, making it difficult to identify errors or unbundled services. For this specific CPT code, the gross charge is $248.00, which is substantially higher than both the cash and Medicare rates, indicating a significant markup common in commercial billing. To protect against overcharging, patients should demand a full itemized bill showing the exact CPT codes and unit costs before finalizing payment, rather than accepting a broad category total. Additionally, since the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned hospital, patients should contact billing directly to confirm if any additional administrative fees apply and ensure that no balance billing occurs for in-network services, as federal protections generally prevent surprise charges for care received at this facility.