Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Girard Medical Center
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $37
- Cash Discount Price: $63
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.52x 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 552% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 452%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $26 - $37 | 388% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $37 - $100 | 552% |
| Aetna | $37 - $184 | 552% |
| Kansas Superior Select-All Plans | $37 | 552% |
| Humana | $37 | 552% |
| Medicare (plans) | $37 | 552% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $37 | 552% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $97 | 1448% |
| Uhhis-All Plans | $100 | 1493% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 83735 (Blood test, magnesium) at Girard Medical Center in Kansas, the facility's cash median price is $63.00, which is notably higher than the state average of $44.00. While commercial insurance plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare negotiate rates ranging from $26 to $184 depending on the specific plan, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more affordable if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds $63.00. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as in-network rates can vary significantly between carriers, and you should always ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts that could lower the final cost.
This procedure is performed at a Critical Access Hospital in Girard, KS, where the facility is owned by a Government Hospital District. The Medicare benchmark for this service is $6.70, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing markups; commercial negotiated rates often average 200% to 300% of this federal rate, whereas fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150%. Given that over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a full itemized CPT-coded bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, and they must dispute any discrepancies in writing to ensure accurate billing. Additionally, under the No Surprises Act, patients are protected from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, so any unexpected charges should be disputed immediately with the insurer.