Blood test, calcium
Facility: Ashland Health Center
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $21
- Cash Discount Price: $27
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.07x 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 407% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 307%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $6 - $17 | 116% |
| Compalliance-All Plans | $14 - $41 | 271% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $14 - $43 | 271% |
| Aetna | $17 - $51 | 329% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $17 - $51 | 329% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $17 - $51 | 329% |
| Medicare (plans) | $17 - $51 | 329% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $17 - $50 | 329% |
| Medica Mcare - All Plans | $17 - $51 | 329% |
| Health Choice-All Plans | $17 - $51 | 329% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $17 - $51 | 329% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $26 - $76 | 504% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood calcium test at Ashland Health Center in Ashland, KS, the cash price is $27.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $21.00 and the median paid by insurers at $17.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial insurance contracts often result in higher final costs due to administrative overhead and network tiering. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price of $27.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which could result in a negotiated rate exceeding the cash amount. Always verify your specific plan's deductible status and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $5.16, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The facility's cash rate of $27.00 is approximately 5.1 times the Medicare amount, reflecting the standard commercial pricing structure where negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare rates. If you receive an itemized bill from this facility, it is crucial to request a full line-by-line statement to identify any errors, such as code unbundling or charges for services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain inaccuracies. If you encounter a balance bill for out-of-network ancillary services, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which prohibits providers from billing you for the difference between their full charge and your insurance's allowed amount