Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $17
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 1.01x 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 $16.8 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 | $15 - $24 | 89% |
| Vc Hope | $17 | 101% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $17 - $47 | 101% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $17 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $17 | 101% |
| Medicare (plans) | $17 | 101% |
| Via Christi Research | $17 | 101% |
| Va | $17 | 101% |
| Humana | $17 | 101% |
| Corizon | $21 | 125% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $29 | 173% |
| Aetna | $53 | 315% |
| Coventry City Of Wichita | $68 | 405% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, thyroid (TSH) procedure (CPT 84443) at Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc, the facility's negotiated rates range from $15 to $68 across 13 payers, with a median negotiated amount of $17.00. This facility is located in Wichita, Kansas (ZIP 67235), and operates as a voluntary non-profit acute care hospital. While specific cash and median paid values are not available in the current data, patients should note that cash-pay options can sometimes be more cost-effective than insurance negotiated rates, particularly for those with high-deductible plans where the insurer's allowed amount may exceed the cash price. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can offer significant fee reductions for upfront payment.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against federal standards, showing a ratio of 1.0 versus Medicare, indicating that the negotiated rates align closely with the Medicare reimbursement baseline for this service. Given that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can inflate costs, patients are encouraged to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment. This step helps identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, which are common in hospital billing. Furthermore, if a patient encounters a balance bill from an out-of-network provider, they should verify the legality of the charge under the No Surprises Act before paying, as federal protections may apply to emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities.