Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $50
- Cash Discount Price: $69
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.46x 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 746% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 646%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Triwest - All Plans | $22 - $50 | 328% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $22 - $271 | 328% |
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $22 - $50 | 328% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $22 - $50 | 328% |
| Humana | $22 - $68 | 328% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $25 - $26 | 373% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $35 - $77 | 522% |
| Cigna | $37 - $83 | 552% |
| Aetna | $37 - $83 | 552% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $51 - $113 | 761% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $51 - $113 | 761% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $53 - $118 | 791% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $61 - $136 | 910% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test, magnesium procedure (CPT 83735), Amberwell Atchison Association in Atchison, KS, lists a cash price of $69.00, which matches the facility's cash median. This rate is significantly higher than the state average for this service, which is $6.70, and exceeds the Medicare benchmark of $6.70 by 7.5 times. While commercial insurance plans like Triwest, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana negotiate rates ranging from $22 to $83, these negotiated amounts often exceed the cash price. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the $69.00 cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount could be higher than the cash rate. It is advisable to contact the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final cost.
Patients should be aware that insurance claims can sometimes lead to unexpected costs due to balance billing, though the No Surprises Act protects against this for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. If a patient receives a bill for the difference between the provider's charge and the insurance payment, they should dispute the balance immediately rather than paying it out of fear of credit damage, and they should refuse to sign any waivers that waive their rights to dispute out-of-network costs. Additionally, because over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, patients should request a full itemized CPT-coded bill before agreeing to any payment plan or settlement. This audit will reveal if services were unbundled or if charges were for items not rendered, ensuring the patient pays