Blood test, magnesium
Facility: F W Huston Medical Center
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $54
- Cash Discount Price: $56
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.06x 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 $6.7 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 806% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 706%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $26 | 388% |
| Aetna | $52 | 776% |
| Humana | $55 | 821% |
| Cigna | $60 | 896% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 83735 (Blood test, magnesium) at F W Huston Medical Center in Winchester, KS, the facility's cash median price is $56.00, which is lower than the state average of $70.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield ($26), Aetna ($52), and Humana ($55) are generally lower than the gross charge, they remain higher than the cash price. This pricing structure highlights a common billing dynamic where paying cash directly can sometimes result in a lower out-of-pocket cost than using insurance, particularly for patients with high-deductible plans who may face higher allowed amounts. To maximize savings, patients should confirm with the hospital whether "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill.
When reviewing your statement, it is critical to request an itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill that obscures individual charges. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, a line-by-line review is the most effective way to identify and correct mistakes. Additionally, this service's Medicare benchmark is $6.70, which serves as an objective baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. While the facility's negotiated rates are higher than the Medicare amount, they are still significantly below the gross charge, indicating that the facility is adhering to fair pricing standards rather than inflating costs to maximize administrative profits.