Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Hospital District #6 Patterson Health Center
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $47
- Cash Discount Price: $42
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.01x 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 701% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 601%). 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 | $24 - $26 | 358% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $31 - $70 | 463% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $60 - $122 | 896% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 83735, representing a blood test for magnesium, the facility District #6 Patterson Health Center in Anthony, KS, lists a gross charge of $52.00. This amount aligns exactly with the median paid rate of $52.00 across all payers, indicating that insurance plans are paying the full listed price for this service. While the cash median price is lower at $42.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds this amount. It is important to note that the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the Government - Hospital District or Authority, and while specific negotiated rates vary by plan (ranging from $24 to $122 depending on the insurer), the facility does not offer a lower cash price than the standard negotiated amounts in this dataset.
When evaluating the cost of this procedure, it is essential to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark, which stands at $6.70 for this code. The facility's gross charge of $52.00 represents a significant markup over the Medicare rate of $6.70, a common practice in healthcare billing where commercial rates often exceed federal benchmarks by a wide margin. To ensure you are receiving fair pricing, we recommend requesting an itemized billing audit to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included in the final invoice. Additionally, since the facility is a government-owned district, you should explicitly ask about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the total cost and bypass the administrative overhead associated with insurance claims processing.