Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Clara Barton Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $92
- Cash Discount Price: $71
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 13.73x 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 $6.7 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 1373% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1273%). 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 | $26 | 388% |
| 6 Degrees Health - All Plans | $52 - $137 | 776% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $59 - $157 | 881% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $67 - $176 | 1000% |
| Aetna | $67 - $176 | 1000% |
| Phcs - All Plans | $67 - $176 | 1000% |
| Hlth Partners Of Ks-All Plans | $68 - $180 | 1015% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for magnesium (CPT 83735) at Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, KS, the facility's cash median price of $71.00 is notably lower than the state average of $77.00. While the hospital's negotiated rates range from $52 to $180 depending on the insurance plan, these amounts often exceed the cash price, meaning patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying out-of-pocket. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates frequently include administrative overhead and contract markups, sometimes reaching 200% to 300% of the Medicare benchmark rate of $6.70, whereas fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150% of that baseline.
Before scheduling, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. This strategy bypasses costly insurance billing cycles and administrative fees, offering immediate liquidity incentives that are not available when using insurance. Additionally, while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, it is crucial to request an itemized billing audit to ensure no errors, double-charges, or unbundled codes are included in the final statement.