Culture, bacterial
Facility: Jewell County Hospital
Billing Code: 87070 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 87070
- Insurance Median: $78
- Cash Discount Price: $63
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.05x 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 $8.62 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 905% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 805%). 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 | $34 - $78 | 394% |
| Aetna | $36 - $83 | 418% |
| Meritain - All Plans | $36 - $83 | 418% |
| Cigna | $38 - $88 | 441% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $38 - $88 | 441% |
| First Health - All Plans | $38 - $88 | 441% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $38 - $88 | 441% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this bacterial culture service at Jewell County Hospital in Mankato, KS, the cash price of $63.00 is lower than the facility's negotiated rates, which range from $34 to $88 depending on the insurance plan. While the median negotiated rate across all seven payers is $78.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective if their insurance allows only a small portion of the $78.00 rate toward their deductible. It is important to note that commercial rates often include administrative overhead and contract markups, whereas the cash price reflects the direct cost of the service without these layers.
The facility's cash rate of $63.00 is lower than the state average for this procedure, though specific county averages were not provided in the data. Patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as some insurance carriers may negotiate rates as low as $34.00, while others may allow up to $88.00. If you are self-pay, ask the billing department about "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the $63.00 cash price. Additionally, if you have insurance, ensure you receive an itemized bill rather than a summary statement to confirm that no unexpected out-of-network charges or unbundled codes have been applied to your account.