Blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel)
Facility: Rawlins County Health Center
Billing Code: 80061 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80061
- Insurance Median: $113
- Cash Discount Price: $119
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.44x 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 $13.39 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 844% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 744%). 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 | $43 | 321% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $113 - $130 | 844% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel) at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, KS, the cash median price is $119.00, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $140.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, the negotiated rates vary significantly by insurer; UnitedHealthcare plans pay between $113.00 and $130.00, whereas Blue Cross Blue Shield pays a flat $43.00. It is important to note that the Medicare benchmark for this service is $13.39, meaning commercial negotiated rates can be substantially higher than the federal baseline. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price of $119.00 more cost-effective than relying on insurance, especially if their plan's negotiated rate exceeds the cash amount or if they have not yet met their deductible.
To minimize costs, patients should proactively ask the facility about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% for upfront payments. Since administrative processing and claims management often inflate insurance rates, paying directly can sometimes bypass these added layers. Additionally, if a patient has insurance, they must verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as assuming that being in-network guarantees the lowest price is a common pitfall. Finally, if a patient receives a bill, they should request a full itemized statement to review every code and unit charge, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute rather than accepting a summary