Blood test, calcium
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $35
- Cash Discount Price: $33
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.78x 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 $5.16 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 678% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 578%). 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 | $5 - $37 | 97% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $11 | 213% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $31 | 601% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $33 | 640% |
| Aetna | $33 | 640% |
| First Health-All Plans | $33 | 640% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $35 | 678% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $35 | 678% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $35 | 678% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $37 | 717% |
| Cigna | $37 | 717% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood calcium test at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, KS, the facility's cash price of $33.00 is slightly lower than the state average of $35.00 and matches the median negotiated rate for in-network insurance plans. While many commercial payers, including UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield, negotiate rates ranging from $11 to $37, the cash price remains competitive. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the $33.00 cash price more advantageous than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for some insurers exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that while the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should always verify if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can further reduce the final cost.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $5.16, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing markup; the cash price of $33.00 represents a significant increase over this federal rate, reflecting the local cost of care and administrative overhead. Because the facility is in-network for all listed payers, patients are protected from balance billing for this specific service under the No Surprises Act, meaning they will not be billed for the difference between the provider's chargemaster and the insurance allowed amount. However, patients should request an itemized bill to ensure no unbundled charges or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.