Blood test, PSA (prostate screen)
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 84153 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84153
- Insurance Median: $182
- Cash Discount Price: $143
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.90x 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 $18.39 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 990% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 890%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers - All Plans | $163 | 886% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $172 | 935% |
| Aetna | $172 | 935% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $182 | 990% |
| Cigna | $182 | 990% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $182 | 990% |
| First Health - All Plans | $182 | 990% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test code 84153 (PSA screening) at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the facility's cash price of $143.00 is lower than the state average but higher than the lowest negotiated rate of $163.00 paid by Rural Carriers. While the median negotiated rate across seven payers is $182.00, this figure often exceeds the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying the cash rate directly. It is important to note that the Medicare benchmark for this service is $18.39, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing; commercial rates are typically marked up significantly above this federal cost basis. To maximize savings, patients should verify if their specific insurance plan has a negotiated rate that exceeds the cash price and consider requesting a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%.
This facility, a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, reports a gross charge of $191.00, which is the starting point before any discounts or insurance negotiations are applied. Patients should be aware that comparing the chargemaster list price to their insurance allowed amount can be misleading, as the true cost is better understood by comparing the negotiated rate against the Medicare benchmark. If you receive a bill after using insurance, you should request a full itemized audit to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are present, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes. Additionally, under the No Surprises Act, you are protected from balance billing for out-of