Blood test, ferritin (iron stores)
Facility: Scott County Hospital
Billing Code: 82728 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82728
- Insurance Median: $158
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 11.59x 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 $13.63 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 1159% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1059%). 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 | $14 - $166 | 103% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $53 | 389% |
| Humana | $74 | 543% |
| Wppa | $105 - $1,200 | 770% |
| Aetna | $158 | 1159% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 82728, representing a blood test for ferritin (iron stores), Scott County Hospital in Scott City, KS, has a negotiated rate of $158.00 across five payers, with the lowest allowed amount being $14.00 and the highest reaching $1,200.00. This facility, a Critical Access Hospital owned by a voluntary non-profit, charges significantly more than the Medicare benchmark of $13.63, which is 11.6 times higher. While the data does not provide specific cash or state/county average figures for this exact procedure, patients should be aware that cash-pay options can sometimes be more affordable than insurance negotiated rates, particularly for those with high-deductible plans where the insurer's allowed amount exceeds the cash price. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the final cost by offering immediate liquidity incentives.
When reviewing your bill, it is crucial to request a full itemized statement rather than accepting a summary invoice that obscures individual charges. Over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, such as double-billing or unbundled codes, and an itemized audit is the most effective way to identify these discrepancies before payment. If you receive a balance bill for the difference between the provider's full chargemaster rate and your insurance allowed amount, you may be protected under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities. Do not sign away your rights to dispute out-of-network costs without reading the waiver carefully, and always verify your deductible status to