Blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel)
Facility: Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc
Billing Code: 80061 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80061
- Insurance Median: $14
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- 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 $13.39 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Smarthealth | $12 - $19 | 90% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $13 | 97% |
| Va | $13 | 97% |
| Medicare (plans) | $13 - $14 | 97% |
| Vc Hope | $13 | 97% |
| Humana | $13 | 97% |
| Via Christi Research | $13 | 97% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $14 - $37 | 105% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $14 | 105% |
| Corizon | $17 | 127% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $23 | 172% |
| Aetna | $42 | 314% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $54 | 403% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel) procedure at Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc, the Medicare benchmark rate is $13.39. This facility's negotiated rates range from $12 to $54 across 13 different payers, with most commercial plans falling between $13 and $17. While the facility's median negotiated rate of $14.00 is slightly higher than the Medicare benchmark, it remains significantly lower than the highest negotiated rates observed in the data, such as the $42 rate from Aetna or the $54 rate from Coventry City Of Wichita. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price directly could be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the cash rate often aligns closely with or falls below the lower end of the negotiated spectrum, avoiding the administrative markup inherent in commercial contracts.
Patients should verify their specific plan's negotiated rate before scheduling, as commercial rates vary widely even within the same facility. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, unexpected charges can still occur if ancillary services are billed separately. To minimize costs, patients are encouraged to contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. Additionally, requesting an itemized billing audit is recommended to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final statement, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through formal written disputes.