Blood test, potassium
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $24
- Cash Discount Price: $47
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 5.04x 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 $4.76 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 504% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 404%). 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 | $9 - $10 | 189% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $16 - $84 | 336% |
| Humana | $16 - $21 | 336% |
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $16 | 336% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $16 | 336% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $16 | 336% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $24 | 504% |
| Cigna | $26 | 546% |
| Aetna | $26 | 546% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $35 | 735% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $35 | 735% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $37 | 777% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $42 | 882% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 84132 (Blood test, potassium) at Amberwell Atchison Association in Atchison, KS, the facility's cash median rate is $47.00, which matches the gross charge listed. This cash price is significantly lower than the median negotiated rates paid by major insurers, such as UnitedHealthcare ($16–$84) and Cigna ($26), and sits well below the Medicare benchmark of $4.76 when adjusted for the facility's specific billing context. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and contract terms that can exceed the direct cash price. If you have a high-deductible plan or have not yet met your deductible, paying the cash rate of $47.00 upfront may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to your insurance's negotiated allowed amount, which could be substantially higher depending on your specific plan.
To ensure you are not overcharged, it is important to verify whether your insurance plan is truly in-network for this specific service, as out-of-network care can trigger balance billing where you are responsible for the difference between the provider's full charge and the insurance payment. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for emergency services at in-network facilities, non-emergency lab services may still present billing complexities if not properly coordinated. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, you should request a detailed, itemized statement rather than accepting a summary bill, which can hide unbundled charges or services not rendered. Finally, do not hesitate to ask the billing department about prompt-pay