Blood test, average blood sugar (A1c)
Facility: Rawlins County Health Center
Billing Code: 83036 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83036
- Insurance Median: $109
- Cash Discount Price: $106
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 11.23x 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 $9.71 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 1123% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1023%). 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 | $36 | 371% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $109 | 1123% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 83036, representing an average blood sugar (A1c) test at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas, the facility's cash median price is $106.00. This cash rate is notably higher than the Medicare benchmark of $9.71, which serves as the federal baseline for this service. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a voluntary non-profit, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures. In this specific case, the negotiated rates for UnitedHealthcare ($109) and Blue Cross Blue Shield ($36) show significant variation, with the Blue Cross rate being lower than the cash price. This dynamic suggests that for patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying the cash price of $106.00 directly could result in lower total costs compared to using insurance that triggers higher negotiated fees.
To maximize savings, patients should proactively ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling the test, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final amount owed by 20% to 50%. It is also important to verify the facility's status against local pricing standards; while the data provided does not include specific county or state average comparisons for this code, patients should always confirm whether the facility's rates align with regional norms before proceeding. Finally, if a patient chooses to use insurance, they must ensure they understand their deductible status, as using a plan without meeting the deductible threshold can lead to paying the full negotiated rate rather than a co-insurance share.