Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Clara Barton Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $140
- Cash Discount Price: $109
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.27x 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 $13.63 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 1027% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 927%). 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 | $53 | 389% |
| 6 Degrees Health - All Plans | $108 | 792% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $124 | 910% |
| Aetna | $140 | 1027% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $140 | 1027% |
| Phcs - All Plans | $140 | 1027% |
| Hlth Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $143 | 1049% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82728, representing a blood test for ferritin (iron stores), Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, KS, lists a gross charge of $155.00. While the facility's cash median rate is $109.00 and the median negotiated rate across seven payers is $140.00, these figures are significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $13.63. This indicates a markup of 10.3% above the federal baseline, which serves as the objective cost standard for evaluating hospital pricing. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures; therefore, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash rate of $109.00 more cost-effective than relying on insurance, provided they can afford the upfront cost.
Patients should be aware that the facility's cash rate of $109.00 is substantially lower than the median negotiated rate of $140.00, highlighting the potential savings of self-pay options. Before scheduling, it is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the bill by bypassing the costly claims processing cycle associated with insurance. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should always request a full itemized billing audit prior to payment to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final invoice.