Blood test, glucose (blood sugar)
Facility: Graham County Hospital
Billing Code: 82947 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82947
- Insurance Median: $12
- Cash Discount Price: $20
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.05x 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 $3.93 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 305% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 205%). 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 - $25 | 25% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $6 | 153% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $9 | 229% |
| Medicare (plans) | $10 - $20 | 254% |
| Celtic Commercial-All Other Plans | $11 - $21 | 280% |
| Wppa (Providers Care)-All Plans | $12 - $25 | 305% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82947, representing a blood glucose test at Graham County Hospital in Hill City, KS, the cash price is $20.00, which matches the median amount paid by insurance. This cash rate is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $20.00 and the Medicare benchmark of $3.93, indicating a substantial markup relative to federal reimbursement standards. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should note that commercial negotiated rates for this service average $12.00 across various payers, including UnitedHealthcare, Medicaid/KanCare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Because the cash price ($20.00) exceeds the median negotiated rate ($12.00), patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find it more cost-effective to pay the cash price directly, provided they confirm the facility's self-pay or prompt-pay discount policies before scheduling.
It is important to understand that insurance payments do not always reflect the lowest possible cost. Although the median negotiated payment is $20.00, this figure represents the amount insurers agreed to pay under contract, which can be higher than the cash price due to administrative overhead and claim processing costs. Patients should be aware of the No Surprises Act, which protects them from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, and should avoid signing consent waivers that might waive these protections. Furthermore, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a full itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, allowing them to verify that all charges correspond to services actually rendered. By comparing the facility's rates against