Culture, bacterial
Facility: Kiowa County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 87070 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 87070
- Insurance Median: $90
- Cash Discount Price: $81
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.44x 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 1044% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 944%). 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 - $108 | 371% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $56 - $121 | 650% |
| Celtic Comml Exchange-All Other Plans | $62 - $108 | 719% |
| Aetna | $62 - $108 | 719% |
| Medica Prime Mcare Cost-All Plans | $62 - $108 | 719% |
| Health Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $62 - $106 | 719% |
| Humana | $62 - $108 | 719% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $70 - $121 | 812% |
| Providrs Care/Wppa-All Plans | $105 - $182 | 1218% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 87070, representing a bacterial culture, Kiowa County Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, KS, lists a cash median price of $81.00 and a median negotiated rate of $90.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should note that cash payments can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance, particularly if your plan has a high deductible or if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. The data indicates that commercial payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare negotiate rates ranging from $32 to $121, whereas Medicaid/KanCare rates span $70 to $121. To ensure you receive the best possible rate, it is advisable to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% when paid in full upfront.
When reviewing your bill, it is crucial to request an itemized statement rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that should be consolidated. For accurate pricing comparisons, always benchmark your facility's rates against the Medicare amount of $8.62 for this service, as commercial rates often average 200% to 300% of this federal baseline. If you receive a balance bill for services rendered at an in-network facility, you may be entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers. Always verify your deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full