Blood test, vitamin D
Facility: St Luke Hospital & Living Center
Billing Code: 82306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82306
- Insurance Median: $174
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.88x 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 $29.6 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 588% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 488%). 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 | $174 | 588% |
| Kansas Department Of Health And Environment | $174 | 588% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $174 | 588% |
| Humana | $174 | 588% |
| Bluestem Pace | $174 | 588% |
| Va Ccn | $174 | 588% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $176 | 595% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82306 (Blood test, vitamin D), the facility's negotiated rate of $174 is significantly lower than the gross charge of $341, reflecting the impact of insurance contracts. However, this negotiated amount is still 5.9 times higher than the Medicare benchmark of $29.6, which serves as the objective baseline for the true cost of care. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Marion, KS, and the data shows a single negotiated rate across seven payers, patients should be aware that commercial rates often include administrative overhead that does not exist in Medicare pricing. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price directly might result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to your insurance's negotiated rate, provided you qualify for self-pay discounts.
To maximize savings, we recommend contacting the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% when paid in full upfront. These discounts bypass the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing and are often available even if your insurance would otherwise cover the service. Since the data indicates a uniform negotiated rate of $174 across all listed payers, there is no variation to exploit through different insurance plans, but verifying your specific deductible status is crucial before scheduling. Always request a detailed, itemized bill before payment to ensure no errors or unbundled charges are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes that can be corrected through a formal written audit.