Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Wichita County Health Center
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $82
- Cash Discount Price: $72
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.88x 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 $16.8 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 488% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 388%). 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 | $74 | 440% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $90 | 536% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 84443, representing a thyroid blood test (TSH), Wichita County Health Center in Leoti, Kansas, has a cash median price of $72.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rate of $82.00. While the facility's negotiated rate of $82.00 is higher than the cash price, it remains below the gross charge of $90.00. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $72.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rate often exceeds the cash price. Patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can significantly lower the final amount owed.
This service is benchmarked against Medicare, which sets a fixed reimbursement rate of $16.80 for this procedure. The facility's cash price of $72.00 is substantially higher than the Medicare amount of $16.80, reflecting the difference between federal cost-based rates and commercial pricing. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this exact code, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can inflate costs beyond the true cost of care. To ensure transparency, consumers should request an itemized bill to verify that all charges are accurate and that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been included.