Blood test, calcium
Facility: Wichita County Health Center
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $27
- Cash Discount Price: $24
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.23x 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 523% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 423%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $25 | 484% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $30 | 581% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test code 82310 at Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas, the facility's cash price of $24.00 is lower than the state average of $25.00, making it a cost-effective option for patients paying out-of-pocket. While the facility's negotiated rate with UnitedHealthcare is $30.00, which exceeds the cash price, this scenario highlights a common billing principle where cash-pay can be cheaper for patients with high-deductible plans if the insurance negotiated rate is higher than the cash price. It is important to note that the facility's negotiated rate of $27.00 (median) remains above the cash rate, suggesting that paying directly may result in immediate savings compared to standard insurance processing, provided the patient has met their deductible.
When evaluating this service against federal benchmarks, the Medicare amount of $5.16 serves as the objective baseline for pricing, revealing that commercial rates are often significantly marked up. Although the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the gross charge of $30.00 represents the starting point before any discounts apply. Patients should be aware that hospitals often offer prompt-pay discounts for upfront cash payments, which can further reduce the final cost by bypassing administrative fees associated with insurance claims. To ensure you are receiving the best possible rate, it is recommended to explicitly ask the billing department about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling your appointment and to request an itemized bill to verify all charges are accurate.