Blood test, potassium
Facility: Kansas Medical Center Llc
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $5
- Cash Discount Price: $33
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| United | $2 | 42% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $4 | 84% |
| Indian Health | $4 | 84% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $5 - $9 | 105% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $5 | 105% |
| Medadv_Wellcare | $5 | 105% |
| Humana | $5 | 105% |
| Three_Rivers | $10 | 210% |
| Aetna | $14 | 294% |
| Wppa | $22 | 462% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test for potassium at Kansas Medical Center Llc in Andover, the cash median price is $33.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $49.00 and the gross charge of $55.00. While the facility's cash price is not explicitly compared to a specific county or state average in this dataset, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash rate directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still verify their specific plan details and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can significantly reduce the final amount owed.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $4.76, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup; the commercial negotiated rate of $49.00 represents a significant increase over this federal cost basis. Although the facility holds a rating of 2, the primary focus for consumers should be on understanding the difference between the allowed amount and the actual charges to avoid unexpected bills. If a patient receives an itemized bill that appears inflated or contains errors, they should request a full line-by-line audit rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Disputing these errors in writing with the billing supervisor is the most effective way to ensure the patient pays only the correct, contracted, or cash price.