Blood test, calcium
Facility: Ellinwood District Hospital
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $32
- Cash Discount Price: $39
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.20x 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 $5.16 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 620% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 520%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $32 | 620% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $32 | 620% |
| Aetna | $32 | 620% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $32 | 620% |
| Cigna | $32 | 620% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood calcium test at Ellinwood District Hospital, the negotiated rate of $32.00 is identical to the facility's cash median price of $39.00, meaning patients paying out-of-pocket or with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more favorable than the insurance negotiated amount. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Kansas, the data does not provide specific state or county average benchmarks for this service to compare against. However, it is important to note that the facility's negotiated rate of $32.00 is 6.2% higher than the Medicare benchmark of $5.16, which serves as the federal baseline for cost. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate without meeting a deductible can result in significant out-of-pocket costs, whereas paying the cash price directly might bypass these barriers entirely.
To secure the best possible rate, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before check-in, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. Since the facility is a Government-owned Critical Access Hospital, they may offer unique financial arrangements that differ from standard commercial contracts. If a patient receives an itemized bill, they should request a full line-by-line audit to ensure no errors, double-billing, or unbundled codes are present, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies. Finally, under the No Surprises Act, patients are protected from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, so any unexpected charges should be disputed with the insurer rather than paid immediately.