Blood test, glucose (blood sugar)
Facility: Ellinwood District Hospital
Billing Code: 82947 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82947
- Insurance Median: $33
- Cash Discount Price: $40
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.40x 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 $3.93 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 840% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 740%). 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 | $32 - $33 | 814% |
| Humana | $32 - $33 | 814% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $32 - $33 | 814% |
| Cigna | $32 - $33 | 814% |
| Aetna | $32 - $33 | 814% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82947, representing a blood test for glucose, Ellinwood District Hospital in Kansas lists a gross charge of $47.00. The facility's cash median rate is $40.00, which is lower than the negotiated rates paid by major insurers like UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, all of which average $32.00 to $33.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, patients should be aware that cash payments can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance if their plan's negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to confirm if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can reduce the final amount owed.
When reviewing this bill, consumers should avoid accepting summary invoices that only show broad category totals, as these often obscure individual line items and potential errors. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes, requesting a full itemized statement is the most effective way to identify unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, this charge should be evaluated against the Medicare benchmark of $3.93 to understand the true cost basis; commercial rates are often significantly higher than this federal standard due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. If a balance bill arises from an out-of-network service, patients should not pay immediately out of fear of credit damage but should instead dispute the charge with their insurer to request a No Surprises Act audit.