Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Hospital District #6 Patterson Health Center
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $81
- Cash Discount Price: $72
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.82x 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 $16.8 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 482% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 382%). 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 | $41 - $44 | 244% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $81 - $90 | 482% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $158 | 940% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at the Hospital District #6 Patterson Health Center in Anthony, KS, the facility's cash median price of $72.00 is notably lower than the state average of $81.00. While the facility's negotiated rates with major payers like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield range from $81.00 to $90.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more advantageous if their insurance allowed amount exceeds $72.00. It is important to note that the facility's negotiated rates are higher than the Medicare benchmark of $16.80, which serves as the federal baseline for cost; however, commercial contracts often include administrative overhead that inflates these figures compared to the true cost of care.
Patients should proactively request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing costly insurance claims processing. Although the facility is an in-network Critical Access Hospital, patients must be aware that balance billing could still occur if ancillary services, such as specific lab components, are rendered by out-of-network providers, potentially triggering unexpected charges beyond the negotiated rate. To ensure accuracy, consumers should always demand a full itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, allowing them to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have inflated the total cost.