Blood test, urea nitrogen (BUN, kidney)
Facility: Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 84520 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84520
- Insurance Median: $34
- Cash Discount Price: $80
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.61x 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 $3.95 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 861% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 761%). 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 | $4 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $9 - $34 | 228% |
| Tricare | $33 | 835% |
| Humana | $34 | 861% |
| Medicare (plans) | $34 | 861% |
| Va_Ccn | $34 | 861% |
| Medadv_Allwell | $34 | 861% |
| Medadv_Uhc | $34 | 861% |
| Aetna | $34 | 861% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $36 | 911% |
| United | $89 | 2253% |
| Wppa_Providrscare | $89 | 2253% |
| Coventry | $102 | 2582% |
| Cigna | $102 | 2582% |
| Hpk | $102 | 2582% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kansas, the facility's cash median rate of $80.00 is significantly lower than the state average of $107.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government ownership, patients should note that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract structures. For instance, the median negotiated rate across payers is $34.00, yet many commercial plans may still result in higher out-of-pocket costs depending on individual deductibles and copays. It is important to remember that cash-pay options can sometimes be more economical for patients with high-deductible plans if the insurance allowed amount exceeds the cash price, making it worth asking the hospital specifically about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling.
The facility's Medicare benchmarking data shows a gross charge of $107.00 against a Medicare rate of $3.95, highlighting the substantial markup typical of commercial billing cycles. However, the actual median paid amount across all payers is $74.00, which is lower than the gross charge but still higher than the cash rate. Patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for emergency services and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities under the No Surprises Act, though unexpected charges can still occur with ancillary services. To ensure accuracy, consumers should request a full itemized billing audit before paying any invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes that can be corrected through a formal written dispute.