Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Lane County Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $51
- Cash Discount Price: $52
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.61x 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 $6.7 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 761% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 661%). 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 | $44 - $55 | 657% |
| Aetna | $44 - $52 | 657% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $49 - $55 | 731% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $49 - $55 | 731% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $49 - $60 | 731% |
| Wppa Providers-All Plans | $74 - $82 | 1104% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 83735 (Blood test, magnesium) at Lane County Hospital in Dighton, KS, the cash median price is $52.00, which matches the gross chargemaster rate. This cash price is notably higher than the state average for this service, which is $49.00. While commercial insurance plans like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna negotiate rates ranging from $44 to $55, these negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying the cash rate directly. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as some in-network rates can be significantly higher than others.
Patients should be aware that commercial insurance rates include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can inflate the baseline price by 20% to 40% compared to direct cash payments. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, it is still advisable to request a prompt-pay discount if paying cash upfront, as hospitals often offer 20% to 50% reductions for immediate payment to bypass costly claims processing. If you receive a bill, always demand a full itemized CPT-coded statement before agreeing to pay, as summary bills can obscure errors or unbundled charges. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, reviewing the line-by-line details ensures you are only paying for services rendered and prevents unexpected costs.