Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $2
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.84x 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 $2.37 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare (plans) | $2 | 84% |
| Via Christi Research | $2 | 84% |
| Vc Hope | $2 | 84% |
| Smarthealth | $2 - $3 | 84% |
| Humana | $2 | 84% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $2 | 84% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $2 | 84% |
| Va | $2 | 84% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $2 - $7 | 84% |
| Corizon | $3 | 127% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $4 | 169% |
| Aetna | $7 | 295% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $10 | 422% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test procedure (CPT 85018) at Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc, the facility's negotiated rate of $2.00 is lower than the Medicare benchmark of $2.37, indicating a pricing structure that aligns with fair value rather than inflated chargemaster lists. While the facility does not publish a specific cash price for this service, patients with high-deductible plans should be aware that paying cash upfront could potentially result in a lower total cost than the insurance negotiated rate, as commercial contracts often include administrative markups that exceed the true cost of care. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to confirm if a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount is available, as these upfront payment incentives can bypass the standard insurance billing cycle and reduce overall out-of-pocket expenses.
This facility operates as a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital in Wichita, Kansas, and participates in a broad network of payers including Medicare, Medicaid/KanCare, and major commercial insurers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna. Because the facility is in-network for most of these plans, patients are protected from balance billing for emergency services and non-emergency care at this location under federal No Surprises Act provisions, which prevents providers from charging the difference between the allowed amount and the full list price. However, patients should still request a detailed, itemized bill to verify that all charges correspond to services actually rendered, as summary invoices can sometimes obscure unbundled codes or services that were cancelled, ensuring the final invoice accurately reflects the negotiated rate of $2.00.