Blood test, basic metabolic panel
Facility: Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 80048 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 80048
- Insurance Median: $66
- Cash Discount Price: $120
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.80x 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 $8.46 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 780% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 680%). 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 | $14 | 165% |
| Tricare | $60 | 709% |
| Humana | $60 | 709% |
| Medicare (plans) | $61 | 721% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $66 | 780% |
| Coventry - All Other Plans | $108 | 1277% |
| Preferred Healthcare-All Plans | $114 | 1348% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas - All Plans | $114 | 1348% |
| Wppa/Providers Care-All Plans | $169 | 1998% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this basic metabolic panel blood test at Memorial Hospital in Abilene, KS, the cash price is $120.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, the cash price is notably higher than the state average of $61.00. However, for patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance, paying the cash price directly can sometimes be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as commercial negotiated rates often exceed the cash price due to administrative overhead. It is important to verify your specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying out-of-pocket may result in lower immediate costs if your insurance coverage would otherwise trigger a higher allowed amount.
Patients should be aware that while the No Surprises Act protects against balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities, unexpected charges can still occur if ancillary services like lab tests are billed separately. To avoid surprises, always request a full itemized bill before paying, as summary invoices may hide unbundled codes or services not rendered. Additionally, since hospitals often offer prompt-pay discounts for upfront cash payments, you should ask the billing department about self-pay or prompt-pay rates prior to check-in to potentially reduce the total cost below the listed cash price.