Blood test, creatinine (kidney)
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 82565 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82565
- Insurance Median: $29
- Cash Discount Price: $57
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.66x 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 $5.12 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 566% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 466%). 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 | $10 - $11 | 195% |
| Humana | $19 - $26 | 371% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $19 | 371% |
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $19 | 371% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $19 | 371% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $19 - $102 | 371% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $29 | 566% |
| Cigna | $31 | 605% |
| Aetna | $31 | 605% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $43 | 840% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $43 | 840% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $44 | 859% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $51 | 996% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for creatinine (kidney) at Amberwell Atchison Association, the facility's cash price is $57.00, which matches the state of Kansas average. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital in Atchison, KS, and operates as a voluntary non-profit, patients should note that insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative costs and contract structures. For instance, UnitedHealthcare's negotiated rate ranges from $19 to $102, and Humana's ranges from $19 to $26, both of which are higher than the cash price. If you have a high-deductible plan or have not yet met your deductible, paying the cash price of $57.00 upfront could be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which may result in higher out-of-pocket costs before coverage kicks in.
The facility's median negotiated rate across all payers is $29.00, which is lower than the cash price but still represents a significant portion of the gross charge. This rate is compared against the Medicare benchmark of $5.12, indicating that the negotiated rates are substantially higher than the federal baseline, a common practice in commercial healthcare pricing. To minimize costs, it is recommended to contact the hospital directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full within a short window. Additionally, patients should request an itemized bill to verify that no services were unbundled or that charges for cancelled tests were included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit.