Blood test, magnesium
Facility: St Luke Hospital & Living Center
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $44
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.57x 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 657% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 557%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Department Of Health And Environment | $43 - $49 | 642% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $43 - $49 | 642% |
| Va Ccn | $43 - $49 | 642% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $43 - $49 | 642% |
| Humana | $43 - $49 | 642% |
| Bluestem Pace | $43 - $49 | 642% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $44 - $49 | 657% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, magnesium procedure (CPT 83735) at St Luke Hospital & Living Center in Marion, KS, the facility's negotiated rates range from $43 to $49 across seven major payers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare. This negotiated range is notably higher than the facility's cash median, which is not available in the current data, but it is important to note that cash-pay options can sometimes be more economical for patients with high-deductible plans if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. Since this facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, patients should proactively contact the billing department to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can significantly reduce the final amount owed before insurance claims are processed.
When evaluating the cost of this service, it is crucial to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's gross charges, as the latter often inflates the perceived savings. The Medicare amount for this code is $6.7, and the facility's negotiated rates are approximately 6.6 times the Medicare rate, which is well above the typical fair pricing range of 120% to 150% of Medicare. Patients should be aware of balance billing risks, particularly if any ancillary services are out-of-network, though the No Surprises Act protects against surprise bills for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. To ensure accuracy, consumers should request a full itemized bill to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered have been charged, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.