Culture, bacterial
Facility: University Of Ks Hlth System Great Bend Campus
Billing Code: 87070 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 87070
- Insurance Median: $54
- Cash Discount Price: $18
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.26x 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 $8.62 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 626% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 526%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alt Wppa [5032000964] | $16 - $44 | 186% |
| Wppa [503200056] | $16 - $44 | 186% |
| Meritain Health [503200039] | $16 - $62 | 186% |
| Alt Carelon Behavioral Health [503200905] | $20 - $52 | 232% |
| First Health [5032000110] | $23 - $62 | 267% |
| Php [503200005] | $23 - $62 | 267% |
| Aha-Healthcare Preferred [503200050] | $23 - $62 | 267% |
| Aetna | $23 - $62 | 267% |
| Alt Meritain Health [503999911] | $23 - $62 | 267% |
| Cigna | $23 - $83 | 267% |
| Allied National [503999937] | $23 - $62 | 267% |
| National Assn Letter Carriers [503200019] | $23 - $62 | 267% |
| Correct Care Solutions [50311253] | $27 - $73 | 313% |
| Workers Comp [503999901] | $33 - $88 | 383% |
| Usa Managed Care [503999030] | $35 - $94 | 406% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this bacterial culture service at the University of KS Health System Great Bend Campus, the cash price is $18.00, which is significantly lower than the state average of $54.00. While the facility's median negotiated rate is $54.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more advantageous if their insurance allows for out-of-network cash discounts or if the negotiated rate exceeds the cash amount. It is important to note that the facility is an Acute Care Hospital in Great Bend, KS, and offers a government-owned structure, which may influence their pricing strategies compared to private entities.
To minimize costs, patients should proactively ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. If you do not have insurance or wish to avoid the administrative overhead of claims processing, paying the cash price directly is often the most economical choice. Additionally, if you are using insurance, be aware that balance billing could occur if out-of-network services are involved, though the No Surprises Act protects you from surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Always request an itemized bill to verify that all charges are accurate and that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been included.