Blood test, calcium
Facility: Hamilton County Hospital
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $45
- Cash Discount Price: $50
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.72x 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 $5.16 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 872% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 772%). 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 | $5 - $11 | 97% |
| First Health Coventry - All Plans | $42 | 814% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $47 | 911% |
| Cigna | $47 | 911% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $50 | 969% |
| Aetna | $85 | 1647% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood calcium test at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, KS, the cash price is $50.00, which matches the facility's gross chargemaster rate. While the median negotiated rate across six payers is $45.00 and the median amount paid by insurers is $47.00, the cash price remains competitive relative to the facility's own pricing structure. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price of $50.00 upfront can sometimes be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer's negotiated rate of $45.00 may still exceed the cash price after deductibles and copays are applied. Additionally, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can further lower the final cost.
This service is benchmarked against federal standards, where the Medicare rate for this procedure is $5.16. The facility's cash price of $50.00 represents a significant markup compared to the Medicare baseline, a common practice in commercial billing where negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of Medicare amounts. However, the data indicates that the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, which may influence its pricing strategy compared to larger systems. Consumers should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, it does not automatically eliminate all potential costs if a patient chooses to pay out-of-network or if ancillary services are rendered. To ensure accuracy, patients should request a full itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice