Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Providence Medical Center
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $7
- Cash Discount Price: $6
- 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 $6.7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Midland Care Connection | $7 | 104% |
| Kansas Superior Select | $7 | 104% |
| Tricare | $7 | 104% |
| Celtic | $7 - $11 | 104% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $7 - $16 | 104% |
| Aetna | $7 - $12 | 104% |
| Cigna | $7 | 104% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $7 - $11 | 104% |
| Medicare (plans) | $7 | 104% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $7 | 104% |
| Healthy Blue | $7 | 104% |
| Corizon | $9 | 134% |
| Well Path Prison | $9 | 134% |
| Employer Direct Healthcare | $9 | 134% |
| Centurion | $10 | 149% |
| Naphcare | $10 | 149% |
| Comp Alliance - Fka Compresults Worker Compensation | $13 | 194% |
| Oha Networks | $14 | 209% |
| Worker Compensation | $15 | 224% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test, magnesium (CPT 83735) at Providence Medical Center in Kansas City, KS, the facility's cash median price is $6.00, which is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by insurance plans ranging from $7.00 to $156.00. While the facility is a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price upfront is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that while the facility offers prompt-pay discounts for upfront payment, patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate may still be required if the deductible has not been met.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $6.70, which serves as a reliable baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup rather than the inflated chargemaster gross of $156.00. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this code, the significant difference between the cash price and the gross charge highlights how commercial insurance contracts can result in higher costs for members. To avoid unexpected balance billing, patients should request an itemized bill to review all CPT codes and ensure no services were unbundled or incorrectly charged, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.