Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Kearny County Hospital
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $30
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 12.66x 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 $2.37 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 1266% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1166%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Community Care Health Plan Of | $30 | 1266% |
| Wps Gha - Mac J5 Part A | $30 | 1266% |
| Humana | $30 | 1266% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $30 | 1266% |
| Aetna | $30 | 1266% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $30 | 1266% |
| Meritain Health | $30 | 1266% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test service at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kansas, the facility's negotiated rate of $30.00 matches the median paid amount of $13.00 and the state average of $12.70, indicating that commercial insurance rates are significantly higher than the typical cost in this region. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that cash-pay options are often more affordable for those with high-deductible plans, as the cash median is not listed but the negotiated rate exceeds the state average. To secure the lowest possible price, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can bypass the administrative costs associated with insurance billing cycles.
It is important to understand that the $30.00 rate represents the maximum allowed by insurance contracts, not the full chargemaster price, and patients should never assume this is the lowest possible cost. If a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider at this facility, the No Surprises Act protects them from balance billing for emergency services and non-emergency ancillary services like laboratory tests, meaning they should not pay the difference between the provider's list price and their insurance allowed amount. Furthermore, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a detailed, itemized statement rather than accepting a summary bill, which may hide unbundled charges or services not rendered, ensuring they only pay for the exact care provided.