Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Smith County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $33
- Cash Discount Price: $37
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.93x 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 493% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 393%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $24 - $39 | 358% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $26 | 388% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $32 - $35 | 478% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $33 - $37 | 493% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $33 - $37 | 493% |
| Health Partners Of Ks Ppo-All Plans | $33 - $37 | 493% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $33 - $37 | 493% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for magnesium (CPT 83735) at Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, Kansas, the cash price is $37.00, which matches the facility's negotiated rate for most commercial payers. This cash price is significantly lower than the Medicare benchmark of $6.70, indicating that the facility's standard billing structure is well below the federal baseline for this service. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients should be aware that commercial insurance negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract terms that can result in higher out-of-pocket costs compared to paying cash directly.
If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price of $37.00 upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates for in-network payers range from $24 to $39, depending on the specific plan. Before scheduling, it is advisable to request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount, which can further reduce the final amount owed by bypassing the standard insurance billing cycle. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills often contain errors, you should request a detailed, itemized statement to verify that all charges are accurate before making any payment.