Blood test, potassium
Facility: Stanton County Hospital
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $52
- Cash Discount Price: $39
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.92x 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 $4.76 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 1092% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 992%). 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 | $9 - $230 | 189% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv - All Other Plans | $51 - $238 | 1071% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid | $52 - $207 | 1092% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for potassium (CPT 84132) at Stanton County Hospital in Johnson, KS, the cash price is $39.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $51.00 and the cash median. This cash price is significantly lower than the Medicare benchmark of $4.76, indicating a substantial markup on the federal rate. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that insurance negotiated rates for this service range widely among payers, from $9 to $238. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the $39.00 cash price upfront may be more cost-effective than your insurance paying its negotiated rate, especially if you have not yet met your deductible.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is important to request a full itemized bill before finalizing payment, as summary bills often hide errors or unbundled charges. If you receive a balance bill for the difference between the provider's full charge and your insurance allowed amount, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. Additionally, you should ask the hospital about prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within 30 days, bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.