Blood test, calcium
Facility: Rawlins County Health Center
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $26
- Cash Discount Price: $26
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.04x 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 504% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 404%). 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 | $11 | 213% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $26 | 504% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for calcium (CPT code 82310) at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas, the facility's cash price is $26.00, which is slightly lower than the state average of $26.50. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. In this specific case, the negotiated rates for Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare are listed at $26.00, matching the cash price exactly. However, if a patient has a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price upfront could be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount might be higher than the cash rate, potentially leading to balance billing if the patient does not meet their deductible.
It is important to note that 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 $26.00 represents a significant increase over the Medicare amount, a common occurrence in commercial pricing where rates can average 200% to 300% of Medicare. To ensure you are receiving the best possible rate, we recommend asking the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full before or shortly after the service. Additionally, since the facility is in-network for the listed payers, the No Surprises Act protects you from balance billing for out-of-network services at this location