Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $17
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.54x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 254% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 154%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $7 | 104% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $7 | 104% |
| Cigna | $7 | 104% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $17 | 254% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 83735, representing a blood test for magnesium at the Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute in Leawood, KS, the facility's negotiated rate of $17.00 is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $6.70, reflecting a markup of 2.5 times the federal baseline. While this facility is in-network for Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and five plans under Blue Cross Blue Shield, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract structures. If you have a high-deductible plan where your out-of-pocket costs are substantial, paying the cash price directly could result in lower total expenses compared to your insurance paying the negotiated rate and you covering the remaining deductible.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is crucial to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, you should verify if the facility offers a prompt-pay discount for self-pay patients, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing the insurance claims cycle. If you receive a balance bill for an out-of-network service at this in-network facility, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which prohibits balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. Always dispute any unexpected charges in writing rather than accepting summary bills or verbal settlements.