Blood test, potassium
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $32
- Cash Discount Price: $31
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.72x 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 672% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 572%). 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 - $34 | 105% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $10 | 210% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $29 | 609% |
| Aetna | $31 | 651% |
| First Health-All Plans | $31 | 651% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $31 | 651% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $32 | 672% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $32 | 672% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $32 | 672% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $34 | 714% |
| Cigna | $34 | 714% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for potassium (CPT 84132) at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, KS, the facility's cash price of $31.00 is notably lower than the median negotiated rate of $32.00 paid by most insurers. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price upfront more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount. It is important to note that while the facility's cash rate is close to the state average, the median negotiated rate of $32.00 is slightly higher than the cash price, suggesting that self-pay or prompt-pay discounts could result in immediate savings for those without active insurance coverage.
The data indicates that Medicare reimbursement for this service is $4.76, which serves as a baseline for evaluating the facility's pricing structure. Although the facility's cash rate is higher than the Medicare amount, it remains significantly lower than the gross charge of $34.00 and aligns closely with the lowest end of the insurance payment range, which spans from $5 to $34 across various payers. Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, they should still request an itemized bill to verify all charges and confirm whether any ancillary services were billed separately. Always ask the billing department about prompt-pay discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can bypass administrative costs and provide immediate financial relief.