Blood test, potassium
Facility: Scott County Hospital
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $52
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.92x 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 1092% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 992%). 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 | $4 - $55 | 84% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $10 | 210% |
| Humana | $24 | 504% |
| Wppa | $35 - $1,200 | 735% |
| Aetna | $52 | 1092% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for potassium (CPT 84132) at Scott County Hospital in Scott City, KS, the facility's negotiated rates range from $4 to $1,200 across five payers, with a median negotiated amount of $52.00. This facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a voluntary non-profit private entity, and its pricing is benchmarked against the federal Medicare rate of $4.76. While the data does not provide a specific cash or median paid amount, patients should note that cash-pay options can sometimes result in lower out-of-pocket costs 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 offer significant fee reductions for upfront payment.
When reviewing your bill, be aware that commercial insurance rates often include administrative overhead and contract markups that can make them higher than the true cost of care represented by the Medicare rate. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, it is crucial to request a full itemized CPT-coded bill before agreeing to any payment plan or signing consent waivers. This audit helps identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain inaccuracies. If you receive a summary bill or an unexpected charge, you should dispute it in writing with the billing supervisor rather than accepting the amount immediately, ensuring you are only paying for the actual services rendered at fair market value.