Blood test, glucose (blood sugar)
Facility: Lincoln County Hospital
Billing Code: 82947 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82947
- Insurance Median: $9
- Cash Discount Price: $39
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.29x 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 $3.93 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 229% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 129%). 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 | $9 | 229% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood glucose test at Lincoln County Hospital in Lincoln, KS, the cash price is $39.00, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $44.00. While the median negotiated rate for Blue Cross Blue Shield plans is $9.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more cost-effective if their insurance allows the full negotiated rate to exceed the cash price. It is important to note that the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, and while the data does not provide a specific median paid amount, the cash rate offers a clear baseline for self-pay patients.
To minimize costs, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as paying upfront can often reduce the bill by 20% to 50% by bypassing insurance claims processing. Additionally, since the No Surprises Act prohibits balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, patients should verify that all ancillary services are covered under the hospital's network agreements. Although the data does not include a specific county or state average for comparison, understanding that commercial rates often include administrative overheads of 20% to 40% helps clarify why the negotiated rate might differ from the cash price.