Blood test, calcium
Facility: Ellsworth County Medical Center
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $40
- Cash Discount Price: $45
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.75x 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 775% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 675%). 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 | $10 - $11 | 194% |
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $21 | 407% |
| Humana | $21 - $42 | 407% |
| Triwest -All Plans | $21 | 407% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $21 | 407% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $29 - $44 | 562% |
| Aetna | $40 | 775% |
| First Health - All Plans | $40 | 775% |
| Cigna | $42 | 814% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid- All Other Plans | $44 | 853% |
| Coventry Mcaid-All Plans | $44 | 853% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $44 | 853% |
| Providers Care-Wppa-All Plans | $67 | 1298% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82310 (Blood test, calcium) at Ellsworth County Medical Center in Ellsworth, KS, the cash median price is $45.00, which matches the facility's gross charge. This cash rate is significantly lower than the state average for this service, making it an attractive option for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance. While the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like Humana and UnitedHealthcare range from $21 to $44, these amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning patients who pay out-of-pocket may save money. It is important to note that commercial insurance rates can sometimes be higher than cash prices due to administrative costs and contract structures, so verifying the cash rate before scheduling can result in immediate savings.
Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency care at in-network facilities, unexpected charges can still occur if ancillary services are out-of-network. If you receive a bill, always request a full itemized audit to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes. Additionally, ask the billing department about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the final amount by 20% to 50% if paid upfront, bypassing the costly insurance claims process. Finally, compare the facility's pricing to the Medicare benchmark of $5.16; commercial rates are often marked up significantly above this baseline, so understanding the true cost relative to Medicare helps ensure you are not overpaying for routine laboratory services.