Blood test, hemoglobin

For the blood test, hemoglobin procedure (CPT 85018), Mercy Hospital Columbus lists a cash price of $23.00, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $36.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield range between $2 and $32, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more cost-effective if their insurance negotiated rates exceed this amount. It is important to note that the facility's cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $2.37, reflecting the standard markup for commercial services, though it remains below the gross charge.

The facility offers a prompt-pay discount, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims. To secure this discount, patients should request a "self-pay" classification and sign a waiver of insurance submission before check-in, as automatic claims processing will void the agreement. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still review their itemized bills to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.