Blood test, basic metabolic panel
Facility: Kearny County Hospital
Billing Code: 80048 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80048
- Insurance Median: $157
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 18.56x 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 $8.46 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 1856% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1756%). 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 | $157 | 1856% |
| Community Care Health Plan Of | $157 | 1856% |
| Meritain Health | $157 | 1856% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $157 - $471 | 1856% |
| Aetna | $157 - $314 | 1856% |
| Wps Gha - Mac J5 Part A | $157 - $471 | 1856% |
| Luminare Health | $157 | 1856% |
| Humana | $157 | 1856% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the basic metabolic panel procedure at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, KS, the negotiated rates across eight insurance plans range from $157 to $471, with a median negotiated amount of $157. This facility, a government-owned Critical Access Hospital, charges a gross price of $157 for this service, which matches the lowest negotiated rates seen from UnitedHealthcare, Community Care Health Plan, Meritain Health, Luminare Health, and Humana. However, other payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Wps Gha - Mac J5 Part A have negotiated rates as high as $471, while Aetna's range extends to $314. It is important to note that the cash price for this service is not listed in the data; however, patients with high-deductible plans should be aware that paying cash upfront can sometimes be cheaper than the insurance negotiated rate if the insurer's allowed amount exceeds the cash price. Always ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can significantly reduce the final cost.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is essential to compare it against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's gross charge. The Medicare amount for this code is $8.46, and the facility's rate is 18.6% higher than the Medicare standard. While commercial negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare, fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150% of the Medicare rate. Patients should avoid accepting summary bills that only show broad category totals and instead request a detailed,