Blood test, potassium
Facility: Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $5
- 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 $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 |
|---|---|---|
| Smarthealth | $1 - $7 | 21% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $5 - $13 | 105% |
| Vc Hope | $5 | 105% |
| Va | $5 | 105% |
| Humana | $5 | 105% |
| Via Christi Research | $5 | 105% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $5 | 105% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $5 | 105% |
| Medicare (plans) | $5 | 105% |
| Corizon | $6 | 126% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $8 | 168% |
| Aetna | $15 | 315% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $19 | 399% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, potassium procedure (CPT 84132) at Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa in Wichita, KS, the facility's negotiated rates range from $1 to $19 across 13 different payers, with a median negotiated amount of $5.00. This facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital, and while specific cash prices are not listed in this dataset, patients should be aware that cash-pay options can sometimes be more affordable than insurance negotiated rates, particularly for those with high-deductible plans where the insurer's allowed amount might exceed the cash price. It is crucial to verify "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts directly with the hospital before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs by bypassing administrative fees and claims processing delays.
When reviewing your bill, it is important to distinguish between the facility's negotiated rates and the federal Medicare benchmark, which stands at $4.76 for this service. The facility's median negotiated rate of $5.00 is slightly higher than the Medicare amount, a common occurrence as commercial rates often include additional administrative layers. If you receive a bill that includes balance billing from out-of-network providers, such as emergency physicians or lab services, you may be entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency and non-emergency care at in-network facilities. Always request a full itemized bill before paying, as summary bills can obscure errors or unbundled charges, and do not sign away your rights to dispute out-of-network costs without reading the waiver carefully.