Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Fredonia Regional Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $52
- Cash Discount Price: $76
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.76x 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 776% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 676%). 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 - $85 | 60% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $26 - $47 | 388% |
| Aetna | $29 - $85 | 433% |
| Veterans Programs - All Plans | $29 - $48 | 433% |
| Reserve National-All Plans | $52 - $85 | 776% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $52 - $85 | 776% |
| Cigna | $52 - $85 | 776% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, magnesium procedure (CPT 83735) at Fredonia Regional Hospital in Kansas, the cash price is $76.00, which matches the facility's median cash rate. This cash price is notably higher than the state average, as indicated by the 7.8% variance compared to Medicare benchmarks, though it remains significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by major insurers like UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, which range between $29 and $85 depending on the plan. Because commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying out-of-pocket at the cash rate of $76.00 cheaper than having insurance cover the service, especially if their deductible has not yet been met.
Patients should verify if the facility offers self-pay or prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, patients should still request an itemized bill to ensure no unexpected charges exist. If a discrepancy arises between the expected cash rate and the final invoice, consumers should dispute any balance billing immediately in writing rather than accepting summary bills or verbal agreements, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal audit.