Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Lincoln County Hospital
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $44
- Cash Discount Price: $165
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.62x 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 262% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 162%). 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 | $44 | 262% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this thyroid blood test (CPT 84443) at Lincoln County Hospital in Lincoln, KS, the facility's cash price of $165.00 is significantly lower than the negotiated rate of $44.00 shown for Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is the only payer listed. While the data indicates a single payer plan, it is important to note that cash-pay rates can sometimes be cheaper for patients with high-deductible plans if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. However, in this specific instance, the negotiated rate of $44.00 is lower than the cash price, suggesting that using insurance may result in a lower out-of-pocket cost depending on your deductible status. Patients should verify their specific plan details and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, as these programs often offer additional fee reductions for upfront payment.
The facility's pricing is evaluated against federal benchmarks to ensure transparency. The Medicare amount for this service is $16.80, which serves as the baseline for evaluating commercial rates. While the provided data does not include explicit state or county average comparisons for this specific code, the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government. Under the No Surprises Act, patients are protected from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, though they should still request an itemized bill to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered. If you receive a bill that seems inconsistent with the $44.00 negotiated rate or the $165.00 cash price, you should request a formal written audit to dispute any errors before making a payment.