Blood test, basic metabolic panel
Facility: Grisell Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 80048 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80048
- Insurance Median: $25
- Cash Discount Price: $41
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.96x 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 $8.46 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 296% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 196%). Patients with high-deductible plans or out-of-network benefits may face excessive out-of-pocket costs.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $4 - $32 | 47% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $18 | 213% |
| Humana | $43 | 508% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $43 | 508% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test service at Grisell Memorial Hospital in Ransom, KS, the cash price of $41.00 is notably lower than the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like UnitedHealthcare ($4–$32), Blue Cross Blue Shield ($18), and Humana ($43). While the median amount paid by insurers is $38.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective, as the cash rate is already below the average negotiated amount. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, the cash price of $41.00 is still higher than the Medicare benchmark of $8.46, which serves as the federal baseline for true cost. To minimize out-of-pocket expenses, patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can further reduce the final cost.
This service is subject to strict billing protections and audit rights under federal law. Although the No Surprises Act generally prevents balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still request a full itemized bill to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors. If a patient receives a surprise bill, they should not pay immediately but instead dispute the charges in writing with the billing supervisor to trigger a formal audit. Furthermore, since the facility's negotiated rates are significantly higher than the Medicare rate, patients should avoid comparing discounts against the inflated chargemaster list; instead, they should verify that any commercial rate offered aligns with fair pricing standards