Blood test, potassium
Facility: Stafford County Hospital
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $22
- Cash Discount Price: $23
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.62x 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 $4.76 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 462% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 362%). 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 | $1 | 21% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $1 | 21% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $22 | 462% |
| Humana | $23 | 483% |
| Medica Mcr- All Plans | $23 | 483% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test for potassium at Stafford County Hospital, the cash price is $23.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $22.00 and the cash median. This service is billed under CPT code 84132, and the facility's rates are compared against state and county averages to ensure transparency. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Stafford, KS, owned by the local government, patients should note that cash payments can sometimes be more cost-effective than insurance claims if the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. It is always advisable to confirm with the hospital regarding "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can reduce the final amount owed.
Insurance payers including UnitedHealthcare, Health Partners, Humana, and Medica Mcr have negotiated rates that average $22.00, which is slightly lower than the gross charge of $23.00. When comparing this to the Medicare benchmark of $4.76, the commercial rates reflect standard administrative markups common in the healthcare system. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price of $23.00 directly may result in lower out-of-pocket costs than waiting for insurance to process a claim, especially if your deductible has not yet been met. To avoid unexpected charges, patients should request a detailed itemized bill before paying, ensuring no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, and should verify their deductible status prior to using insurance for this shoppable test.