Blood test, glucose (blood sugar)
Facility: Rawlins County Health Center
Billing Code: 82947 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82947
- Insurance Median: $22
- Cash Discount Price: $21
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.60x 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 $3.93 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 560% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 460%). 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 | $9 | 229% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $22 | 560% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood glucose test at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas, the cash price is $21.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rate of $22.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract dynamics. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price of $21.00 upfront may result in immediate savings compared to having your insurance pay the higher negotiated amount, especially if your deductible has not yet been met. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to confirm if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling your visit.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $3.93, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The facility's cash rate of $21.00 is significantly higher than the Medicare amount, reflecting the costs associated with providing care outside of the federal fixed reimbursement system. Although specific county or state average data is not provided in this report, the disparity between the Medicare rate and the cash price highlights the importance of understanding the difference between government benchmarks and commercial pricing. To avoid unexpected costs, patients should request an itemized bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, and they should dispute any balance billing immediately if they receive a bill for the difference between the allowed amount and the full charge.