Blood test, potassium
Facility: Osborne County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $35
- Cash Discount Price: $32
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.35x 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 $4.76 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 735% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 635%). 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 | 609% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $33 | 693% |
| Wppa | $36 | 756% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $37 | 777% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for potassium (CPT 84132), Osborne County Memorial Hospital in Osborne, KS, lists a cash price of $32.00, which is lower than the facility's gross charge of $38.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the data does not provide specific county or state average rates for this procedure to compare against. However, the cash price is notably lower than the facility's median negotiated rate of $35.00, suggesting that paying out-of-pocket directly may result in a lower total cost than using insurance for this specific service. Patients with high-deductible plans should consider that the insurance negotiated rate of $35.00 exceeds the cash price, meaning they could save money by paying the cash rate directly, provided they qualify for the facility's self-pay or prompt-pay discounts.
It is important to understand that commercial insurance rates often include administrative overhead and contractual markups that can make them higher than cash prices. For instance, the facility's Medicare benchmark rate is $4.76, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the markup on commercial rates; the cash price of $32.00 represents a significant markup over this federal baseline, a common practice in the healthcare industry. If you choose to use insurance, be aware that the facility's allowed amount is $35.00, but your specific plan's deductible and copay will determine your final out-of-pocket cost. To ensure you are not overcharged, always request an itemized bill before paying and verify that no balance billing is occurring, as federal protections like the No Surprises Act may limit unexpected charges for out-of-network services