Blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel)
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 80061 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80061
- Insurance Median: $115
- Cash Discount Price: $109
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.59x 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 $13.39 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 859% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 759%). 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 | $13 - $121 | 97% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $43 | 321% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $103 | 769% |
| Aetna | $109 | 814% |
| First Health-All Plans | $109 | 814% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $109 | 814% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $115 | 859% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $115 | 859% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $115 | 859% |
| Cigna | $120 | 896% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $120 | 896% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, cholesterol (lipid panel) service at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, KS, the negotiated rates for commercial insurance plans range from $13 to $121, with a median negotiated amount of $115. This facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, and its pricing structure reflects the typical administrative overhead associated with in-network contracts. While the cash price is $109, which is lower than the median negotiated rate of $115, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price upfront is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount often exceeds the cash rate. It is important to note that the facility's cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $13.39, illustrating the substantial markup common in commercial billing structures.
Patients should be aware that assuming an in-network status guarantees the lowest possible price is a common pitfall, as different insurance carriers negotiate distinct rates, with UnitedHealthcare offering the lowest rate at $13 and others charging up to $121. To minimize costs, individuals should proactively ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full before or shortly after the service. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, consumers are encouraged to request a detailed, itemized statement rather than accepting a summary bill, ensuring that no charges exist for services not rendered or codes that were unbundled.