Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital, Llc
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $7
- Cash Discount Price: $49
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $7 | 104% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $7 - $8 | 104% |
| Providrs Care Network | $7 | 104% |
| Humana | $7 | 104% |
| United Mine Workers Of America | $7 | 104% |
| Aetna | $7 - $8 | 104% |
| Lantern Specialty Care | $11 | 164% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood magnesium test at Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital, the cash median price is $49.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by major insurers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna. While the facility is an Acute Care Hospital in Wichita, KS, the data indicates that paying out-of-pocket can sometimes be more cost-effective for patients with high-deductible plans, as the insurance negotiated rates often exceed the cash price. To maximize savings, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can bypass the administrative costs and higher negotiated ceilings associated with insurance billing.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $6.70, providing a clear baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. Although the specific county or state average is not provided in this dataset, the significant difference between the Medicare rate and the cash price highlights the importance of comparing rates against federal standards rather than the hospital's inflated chargemaster list. If you have received a bill from this facility, it is advisable to request a detailed, itemized statement to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been charged, ensuring you are only paying for the actual blood test performed.