Blood test, basic metabolic panel
Facility: Stevens County Hospital
Billing Code: 80048 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80048
- Insurance Median: $87
- Cash Discount Price: $148
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.28x 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 $8.46 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 1028% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 928%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $10 - $180 | 118% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $19 - $20 | 225% |
| Humana | $43 - $67 | 508% |
| First Health - All Plans | $104 - $162 | 1229% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $110 - $171 | 1300% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $116 - $180 | 1371% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test at Stevens County Hospital in Hugoton, Kansas, the cash price is $148.00, which matches the facility's median paid amount. While the hospital's negotiated rates with major payers like Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield range from $10 to $180, the cash price may actually be the most affordable option for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance. Because commercial insurance contracts often include administrative overhead that inflates the baseline price by 20% to 40%, paying out-of-pocket can sometimes result in a lower total cost than what the insurer would allow. Patients should explicitly ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can further lower the final amount owed.
This service is categorized under Critical Access Hospitals, and the facility is owned by the local government. The data indicates a significant difference between the commercial negotiated rate and the Medicare benchmark, which serves as the federal baseline for true cost. While the specific state or county average is not provided in this dataset, it is important to note that commercial rates often exceed fair pricing benchmarks defined as 120% to 150% of the Medicare rate of $8.46 for this procedure. If a patient receives a bill that includes charges for services not rendered or unbundled components, they should request a formal itemized audit to identify errors, as over 80% of hospital bills contain inaccuracies. Disputing these errors in writing is the most effective way to reduce medical debt and ensure the patient is only paying for actual care received.