Blood test, amylase
Facility: Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 82150 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82150
- Insurance Median: $31
- Cash Discount Price: $33
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.78x 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 $6.48 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 478% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 378%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tricare | $26 | 401% |
| Aetna | $30 - $33 | 463% |
| Humana | $30 | 463% |
| Hpk-All Plans | $31 | 478% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $31 | 478% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $33 | 509% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82150, representing a blood test for amylase, Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital in Medicine Lodge, KS, lists a cash median price of $33.00. This cash rate is notably higher than the facility's negotiated rates, which range from $26.00 to $33.00 across six payers including Tricare, Aetna, and Humana. While the cash price matches the highest negotiated rates found in this dataset, patients with high-deductible plans should consider that paying cash upfront might be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within a short window, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.
The facility's Medicare benchmark amount for this service is $6.48, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. The cash price of $33.00 represents a significant increase over the Medicare rate, reflecting the standard administrative and operational costs included in commercial billing. Although the data does not provide specific county or state average comparisons for this exact code, the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Kansas, and patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act. To ensure accuracy, patients should request an itemized bill before paying, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, and should