Blood test, creatinine (kidney)
Facility: Republic County Hospital
Billing Code: 82565 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82565
- Insurance Median: $37
- Cash Discount Price: $30
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.23x 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 $5.12 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 723% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 623%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers-All Plans | $34 | 664% |
| Aetna | $36 | 703% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $36 | 703% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $37 | 723% |
| Cigna | $38 | 742% |
| First Health-All Plans | $38 | 742% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $38 | 742% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test for creatinine at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS, the cash price is $30.00, which is lower than the median negotiated rate of $37.00 paid by insurance carriers. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that while the facility is in-network for seven major payers, the actual amount your specific plan allows may vary, and you should always confirm your out-of-pocket responsibility before scheduling to ensure you are not facing unexpected balance billing.
To maximize savings, patients should proactively ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront. Additionally, if you receive a summary bill, you should request a full itemized audit to identify any errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes that can be corrected. When evaluating the facility's pricing, it is more accurate to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark of $5.12 rather than the hospital's gross charge of $40.00, as Medicare rates represent the true cost baseline and reveal the actual markup applied to commercial pricing.