Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Kiowa County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $43
- Cash Discount Price: $41
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.89x 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 $3.95 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 1089% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 989%). 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 | $8 - $43 | 203% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $38 - $48 | 962% |
| Health Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $42 | 1063% |
| Medica Prime Mcare Cost-All Plans | $43 | 1089% |
| Aetna | $43 | 1089% |
| Humana | $43 | 1089% |
| Celtic Comml Exchange-All Other Plans | $43 | 1089% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $48 | 1215% |
| Providrs Care/Wppa-All Plans | $72 | 1823% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test service at Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, KS, the facility's cash price of $41.00 is lower than the median negotiated rate of $43.00 paid by most insurance plans, including UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that Medicaid/KanCare plans in this area have a specific allowed amount of $48.00, which is higher than the cash price, suggesting that self-pay or prompt-pay discounts could further reduce the final cost for those without insurance.
When evaluating the value of this service, it is essential to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's full list price. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $3.95, and the facility's cash rate of $41.00 represents a significant markup above this federal baseline. Because over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a detailed itemized bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included. If a balance bill arises from an out-of-network ancillary service, patients should not pay immediately but instead dispute the charge with their insurer under the No Surprises Act protections.