Culture, bacterial
Facility: Logan County Hospital
Billing Code: 87070 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 87070
- Insurance Median: $62
- Cash Discount Price: $18
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.19x 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 $8.62 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 719% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 619%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $32 | 371% |
| Humana | $38 | 441% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $86 | 998% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $90 | 1044% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this bacterial culture service at Logan County Hospital in Oakley, Kansas, the negotiated rates for major payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Humana range from $32 to $90, while the cash median price is significantly lower at $18.00. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans, paying the cash price upfront can often be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates frequently exceed the cash rate. Additionally, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill by bypassing administrative claim processing fees.
When evaluating the cost relative to the broader healthcare landscape, the facility's cash median of $18.00 is notably lower than the state average for this procedure, which is $62.00. However, the facility's negotiated rate of $62.00 matches the state average exactly, while the Medicare benchmark for this service is set at $8.62. This indicates that while the cash option offers a substantial discount compared to typical state rates, the commercial negotiated rates align with the broader market average rather than the federal baseline.