Blood test, calcium
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $20
- Cash Discount Price: $35
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.88x 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 $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 388% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 288%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $1 - $2 | 19% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1 - $2 | 19% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $19 - $38 | 368% |
| Humana | $20 - $40 | 388% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $20 - $40 | 388% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82310, representing a blood test for calcium, the cash price at Stafford County Hospital is $35.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate and the cash median for this service. This price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $5.16, reflecting a markup of 3.9 times the federal rate. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Stafford, Kansas, the data does not provide specific county or state average figures for comparison; however, patients should note that cash-paying can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance if the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price, particularly for those with high-deductible plans.
Commercial insurance carriers in this facility have negotiated rates ranging from $1 to $40 depending on the plan, with UnitedHealthcare and Va Ccn-All Plans showing the lowest ranges at $1 to $2. Because these negotiated rates are often inflated by administrative costs and contract dynamics, patients should verify their specific allowed amounts before scheduling. It is also important to ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront, bypassing the higher administrative fees associated with insurance claims. Finally, if you receive a bill, request a detailed itemized statement to ensure no errors exist, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes that can be corrected through a formal audit.