Blood test, basic metabolic panel
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 80048 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80048
- Insurance Median: $109
- Cash Discount Price: $114
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 12.88x 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 $8.46 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 1288% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1188%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $10 | 118% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $10 | 118% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $109 | 1288% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $114 | 1348% |
| Humana | $114 | 1348% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 80048, representing a basic metabolic panel at Stafford County Hospital in Stafford, KS, the cash median price is $114.00, which matches the facility's gross charge. This rate is notably higher than the state average for this service, which is $8.46, and significantly exceeds the Medicare benchmark of $8.46. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that cash-paying can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance if the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. In this case, the median negotiated rate across payers is $109.00, and the median paid amount is $110.00, both of which are higher than the cash price. Patients with high-deductible plans may find it beneficial to pay the $114.00 cash price directly, provided they verify if their insurance would otherwise pay less than this amount.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is crucial to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still verify that all ancillary services, such as specific lab components, are properly classified. Additionally, Stafford County Hospital may offer a prompt-pay discount for patients who settle their bill in full upfront, which can reduce the total cost by 20% to 50%. We recommend contacting the hospital directly to confirm their self-pay or prompt-pay rates and to ensure no unnecessary administrative fees are