Blood test, basic metabolic panel
Facility: Lane County Hospital
Billing Code: 80048 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80048
- Insurance Median: $50
- Cash Discount Price: $50
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.91x 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 591% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 491%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $45 - $48 | 532% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $45 - $50 | 532% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $50 | 591% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $50 | 591% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $50 - $55 | 591% |
| Wppa Providers-All Plans | $75 | 887% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test at Lane County Hospital in Dighton, KS, the cash price is $50.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate and the state average. While the Medicare benchmark for this service is $8.46, commercial insurance plans typically pay between $45.00 and $55.00 depending on the carrier. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the $50.00 cash price directly more affordable than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for many payers exceed the cash amount. It is important to verify your specific deductible status before scheduling, as using insurance could result in out-of-pocket costs that surpass the cash price.
To ensure you receive the best possible rate, ask the hospital staff about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. These discounts bypass the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing, offering immediate savings. Additionally, if you have insurance, request an itemized billing audit to confirm that all charges align with the negotiated rates and that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, reviewing the detailed statement before payment is a critical step in avoiding unnecessary medical debt.