Blood test, calcium
Facility: Graham County Hospital
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $13
- Cash Discount Price: $24
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.52x 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 252% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 152%). 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 - $24 | 19% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $8 | 155% |
| Medicare (plans) | $10 - $19 | 194% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $11 | 213% |
| Celtic Commercial-All Other Plans | $12 - $21 | 233% |
| Wppa (Providers Care)-All Plans | $13 - $24 | 252% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for calcium (CPT code 82310) at Graham County Hospital in Hill City, Kansas, the cash price is $24.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate. This cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $5.16, indicating a markup of 2.5 times the federal rate. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that commercial insurance plans often pay negotiated rates that can exceed the cash price. For instance, UnitedHealthcare plans range from $1 to $24, and Medicaid/KanCare is set at $8, meaning some insured patients could pay more than the cash price of $24.00.
To minimize costs, patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as in-network rates vary widely among the six payers represented here. If your insurance deductible has not been met, you may be billed the full negotiated rate rather than the cash price, so checking your balance is essential. Additionally, since this is a government-owned facility, you should explicitly ask at registration about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront. Finally, always request a detailed, itemized bill before paying to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected through a formal audit.