Blood test, potassium
Facility: Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $5
- Cash Discount Price: $10
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.05x 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 $4.76 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $2 - $5 | 42% |
| Aetna | $5 - $10 | 105% |
| Triwest | $5 | 105% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $5 - $7 | 105% |
| Cigna | $8 | 168% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, potassium procedure (CPT 84132) at Kansas Surgery & Recovery Center in Wichita, KS, the cash median price is $10.00, which matches the facility's gross charge. This rate is 110% higher than the Medicare benchmark of $4.76, indicating a markup of approximately 110% over the federal cost baseline. While the facility offers a negotiated rate of $5.00 for in-network plans, this amount is still 20% higher than the cash price. For patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, paying the cash price of $10.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rate often exceeds the cash rate due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics.
Patients should be aware that commercial insurance rates are frequently inflated by multi-layered billing structures, and the facility's negotiated rate of $5.00 reflects these complexities rather than the true cost of care. To minimize out-of-pocket expenses, individuals should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full before or shortly after the service. Additionally, if a balance bill arises from an out-of-network ancillary service, patients should verify the legality of the charge under the No Surprises Act and request a formal itemized audit to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, ensuring they are not paying for unnecessary or duplicated charges.