Culture, bacterial
Facility: Kearny County Hospital
Billing Code: 87070 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 87070
- Insurance Median: $85
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 9.86x 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 986% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 886%). 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 | $85 | 986% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $85 | 986% |
| Wps Gha - Mac J5 Part A | $85 | 986% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $85 | 986% |
| Aetna | $85 | 986% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 87070 (Culture, bacterial) at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kansas, the negotiated rates across five major payers, including UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield, are consistently set at $85.00. This negotiated amount aligns exactly with the facility's median negotiated rate and the gross charge listed, indicating no variation in contract terms for this specific service among the participating insurers. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the data does not provide a specific county or state average for comparison, so the $85.00 rate stands as the confirmed commercial benchmark for in-network members.
Patients should be aware that the Medicare benchmark for this service is $8.62, which serves as a federal cost baseline significantly lower than the commercial rates observed. Although the data shows a median paid amount of $53.00, this figure likely reflects patient responsibility such as deductibles or copays rather than the full allowed amount, as the negotiated rate remains fixed at $85.00. If you have a high-deductible plan or no insurance, you may find that paying the cash price directly is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices. We recommend contacting the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can further reduce the final bill before you commit to payment.