Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $11
- Cash Discount Price: $23
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 4.64x 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 $2.37 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 464% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 364%). 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 | $2 | 84% |
| Tricare | $8 - $11 | 338% |
| Humana | $9 - $11 | 380% |
| Medicare (plans) | $9 - $11 | 380% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $9 - $11 | 380% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $9 - $12 | 380% |
| Medadv_Uhc | $9 - $11 | 380% |
| Va_Ccn | $9 - $11 | 380% |
| Aetna | $9 - $11 | 380% |
| Medadv_Allwell | $9 - $11 | 380% |
| Wppa_Providrscare | $22 - $29 | 928% |
| United | $22 - $29 | 928% |
| Hpk | $26 - $33 | 1097% |
| Cigna | $26 - $33 | 1097% |
| Coventry | $26 - $33 | 1097% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, hemoglobin (CPT 85018) at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, KS, the facility's cash median price is $23.00, while the median negotiated rate across 15 payers is $11.00. This facility operates as a Critical Access Hospital with government-local ownership, and its cash price is notably higher than the state average of $21.00. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying cash directly more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for commercial payers like United ($22–$29), Cigna ($26–$33), and Coventry ($26–$33) often exceed the cash price. Additionally, the facility offers a prompt-pay discount for upfront payments, which can further reduce the final amount owed compared to the standard cash median.
When evaluating costs against federal benchmarks, it is important to compare rates to the Medicare amount of $2.37 rather than the facility's gross charge of $31.00. The facility's cash median of $23.00 represents a significant markup over the Medicare rate, illustrating how commercial pricing structures can differ substantially from the government's cost-based baseline. While the facility's rating is 1, patients should verify their specific plan details before scheduling, as some in-network payers like Medicaid/KanCare and Tricare have very few plans (2–3) compared to others like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Ambetter/Centene (3–4). To avoid unexpected costs, consumers should request a self-pay classification and a prompt-pay discount prior to check-in, and always review