Blood test, potassium
Facility: Ashland Health Center
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $15
- Cash Discount Price: $12
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.15x 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 $4.76 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 315% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 215%). 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 | $5 | 105% |
| Compalliance-All Plans | $12 | 252% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas-All Plans | $13 | 273% |
| Health Choice-All Plans | $15 | 315% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $15 | 315% |
| Aetna | $15 | 315% |
| Medicare (plans) | $15 | 315% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $15 | 315% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $15 | 315% |
| Medica Mcare - All Plans | $15 | 315% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $15 | 315% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $22 | 462% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, potassium procedure (CPT 84132) at Ashland Health Center in Ashland, KS, the facility's cash median rate is $12.00, while the median negotiated rate paid by insurance payers is $15.00. This specific service is priced at 3.2 times the Medicare benchmark amount of $4.76. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $12.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rate of $15.00 exceeds the cash price. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in a Voluntary non-profit structure, the cash rate does not necessarily represent the lowest possible cost; patients should always inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these programs can further reduce the final amount owed.
The pricing data reflects 12 different payer plans, with rates ranging from a low of $5.00 to a high of $22.00 across various insurance carriers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicaid/KanCare. Since the provided data does not include specific county or state average comparisons for this procedure, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can inflate the baseline price. To ensure you are receiving the most accurate pricing information, it is recommended to request a full itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes. Always verify your deductible status and confirm whether any ancillary services are out-of