Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $35
- Cash Discount Price: $37
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.22x 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 522% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 422%). 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 | $27 - $34 | 403% |
| Humana | $31 - $39 | 463% |
| Aetna | $31 - $43 | 463% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $32 - $41 | 478% |
| Hpk-All Plans | $32 - $41 | 478% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $34 - $43 | 507% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for magnesium at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital, the cash price is $37.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $35.00 and the Medicare benchmark of $6.70. While commercial payers like Aetna and Humana negotiate rates ranging from $31 to $43, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated amounts often exceed the cash rate. Because this facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Kansas, the cash price is comparable to the state average, and patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling to ensure they receive the lowest possible fee.
It is important to note that the Medicare benchmark of $6.70 serves as a baseline for fair pricing, revealing that commercial negotiated rates are significantly higher than the federal government's cost basis. If you receive a bill from this facility, you should request a full itemized statement to verify that no services were unbundled or that charges for cancelled tests were included. Under federal protections like the No Surprises Act, you are generally shielded from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, so if you receive an unexpected bill, you should dispute it in writing rather than paying immediately. Always confirm your deductible status and request a waiver of insurance submission if you intend to pay cash to avoid automatic claims processing that could void any potential discounts.