Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Osborne County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $39
- Cash Discount Price: $39
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.82x 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 582% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 482%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $29 - $41 | 433% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $33 - $46 | 493% |
| Wppa | $36 - $51 | 537% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $37 - $53 | 552% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood magnesium test at Osborne County Memorial Hospital in Osborne, KS, the cash price is $39.00, which aligns with the facility's median negotiated rate. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should note that cash payments can sometimes be more cost-effective than using insurance, particularly if your plan has a high deductible or if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. The data indicates that commercial payers like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated rates ranging from $33 to $53, which are generally higher than the cash amount. To minimize costs, we recommend contacting the hospital directly to confirm if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can significantly reduce the final bill.
When reviewing your statement, be aware that hospitals often issue summary bills that obscure individual charges, making it difficult to identify errors or unbundled services. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes, it is crucial to request a full itemized CPT-coded statement before agreeing to pay, ensuring you can spot any charges for services not rendered or components billed separately. Additionally, while the facility's gross charge is $46.00, the Medicare benchmark for this service is $6.70, providing a clear baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup. If you receive a balance bill from an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility, you may be entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act, which bans surprise billing for emergency and non-emergency services at in-network hospitals.