Blood test, calcium
Facility: Hospital District #6 Patterson Health Center
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $32
- Cash Discount Price: $28
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.20x 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 $5.16 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 620% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 520%). 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 | $10 - $11 | 194% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $32 - $35 | 620% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $61 | 1182% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood calcium test at Hospital District #6 Patterson Health Center in Anthony, KS, the facility's negotiated rates range from $32 to $35, which aligns closely with the median negotiated amount of $32.00 found in the broader market. While the facility's cash price of $28.00 is slightly lower than the negotiated rates, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash upfront more cost-effective, as the cash price avoids the administrative overhead and multi-layered structures that often inflate insurance payments. It is important to note that this facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a government hospital district, and while prompt-pay discounts are common at such facilities to improve cash flow, patients should explicitly request self-pay classification before scheduling to ensure they receive the lowest possible rate rather than the standard insurance billing cycle.
When evaluating the cost relative to federal benchmarks, the facility's gross charge of $35.00 is approximately 6.2% higher than the Medicare amount of $5.16, which serves as the objective baseline for fair pricing. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this specific code, the significant difference between the Medicare rate and the commercial charges highlights the potential for substantial savings through direct payment or verified negotiated rates. Patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency services at in-network facilities under federal law, but they must still review their itemized bills to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been included. If a large bill arrives, consumers should dispute any discrepancies in writing rather than accepting summary invoices, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal audit.