Blood test, potassium
Facility: Cheyenne County Hospital
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $14
- Cash Discount Price: $15
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.94x 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 $4.76 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 294% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 194%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $7 - $15 | 147% |
| First Health - All Plans | $10 | 210% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $10 | 210% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $11 | 231% |
| Choice Care - All Plans | $11 | 231% |
| Aetna | $11 - $14 | 231% |
| Tricare | $11 | 231% |
| Firstguard - All Plans | $12 | 252% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $13 | 273% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $14 | 294% |
| Cpm - All Plans | $14 | 294% |
| Ppo Next - All Plans | $14 | 294% |
| Preferred Hc - All Plans | $14 | 294% |
| Unicare - All Plans | $14 | 294% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $14 | 294% |
| Integrated Hp - All Plans | $14 | 294% |
| Healthwave Mcaid - All Plans | $15 | 315% |
| Childrens Mercy - All Plans | $15 | 315% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $15 | 315% |
| Providers Care-All Plans | $22 | 462% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For CPT code 84132, a blood test for potassium, Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis, KS, lists a cash price of $15.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rate of $14.00 and the state average. This service is provided by a Critical Access Hospital, a facility type often subject to specific federal pricing rules. While the cash price is competitive, patients with high-deductible plans should consider that paying out-of-pocket might be more cost-effective than using insurance, as commercial negotiated rates can sometimes exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to confirm if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final amount owed.
The facility's pricing for this test is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark, which is set at $4.76. This difference highlights how commercial rates often include markups beyond the federal baseline for cost-based reimbursement. When reviewing your bill, ensure you receive an itemized statement rather than a summary invoice, as hospitals may bundle charges or include services not rendered. If you receive a large bill after using insurance, verify that it aligns with the negotiated rate of $14.00 and that no balance billing has occurred, especially since the No Surprises Act protects patients from unexpected out-of-network charges at in-network facilities. Always request a written dispute in certified mail if you identify errors, rather than relying on verbal assurances from billing staff.