Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Phillips County Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $70
- Cash Discount Price: $62
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.14x 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 $13.63 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 514% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 414%). 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 | $53 - $62 | 389% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $56 - $77 | 411% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $70 - $77 | 514% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $70 - $77 | 514% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test procedure, the cash price of $62 is notably lower than the facility's gross charge of $74, offering a potential savings for patients who can pay directly. While the facility is a government-owned Critical Access Hospital in Phillips County, KS, the data does not include specific state or county average rates for comparison. In contrast, the Medicare benchmark for this service is $13.63, which serves as a critical baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing structure. The cash rate of $62 represents a significant markup over the Medicare amount, illustrating the difference between the federal cost-basis standard and commercial pricing.
Insurance payers negotiate different rates, with UnitedHealthcare, Health Partners-All Plans, and Medicaid/KanCare all having a high negotiated rate of $77, while Blue Cross Blue Shield has a high rate of $62. The median negotiated rate across all payers is $70, and the median paid amount is $63. If a patient has a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price of $62 upfront could be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which may result in a higher allowed amount or require the patient to meet their deductible first. Patients are encouraged to verify their specific plan details and ask the hospital about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling to ensure they receive the most favorable rate available.