Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: F W Huston Medical Center
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $85
- Cash Discount Price: $89
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.06x 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 $16.8 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 506% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 406%). 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 | $44 | 262% |
| Aetna | $83 | 494% |
| Humana | $88 | 524% |
| Cigna | $94 | 560% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 84443, representing a blood test for thyroid function (TSH), F W Huston Medical Center in Winchester, KS, has a cash median price of $89.00 and a median negotiated rate of $85.00. This facility, a Critical Access Hospital, charges significantly less than the state average for this service. While the facility's negotiated rate is lower than the state average, the cash price is notably higher than the state average, which may be beneficial for patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum. In such cases, paying the cash price of $89.00 directly could result in lower total costs compared to the insurance negotiated rate of $85.00 if the patient's plan requires them to pay the full amount before coverage kicks in.
Patients should verify whether the facility offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill. It is important to request an itemized billing audit to ensure all charges are accurate and that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors. When comparing prices, always use the Medicare amount of $16.80 as the benchmark rather than the facility's gross charge; this reveals that the commercial negotiated rate is substantially higher than the federal baseline. For this specific test, the Medicare amount serves as the most reliable indicator of the true cost of care, highlighting the significant markup present in commercial pricing structures.