Blood test, magnesium
Facility: William Newton Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $58
- Cash Discount Price: $133
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.66x 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 $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 866% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 766%). 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 | $2 - $72 | 30% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $2 - $75 | 30% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $2 - $186 | 30% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $2 - $207 | 30% |
| Providrs Care Nexus | $3 - $127 | 45% |
| Providrs Care - All Other Plans | $4 - $145 | 60% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood magnesium test (CPT 83735) at William Newton Hospital in Winfield, KS, the facility's cash price of $133.00 is significantly higher than the state average, which sits at $8.70 above the Medicare benchmark of $6.70. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, patients should note that commercial insurance negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract structures. In this case, the median negotiated rate across payers is $58.00, which is lower than the cash price, but patients must verify their specific plan's allowed amount, as some high-deductible policies may result in out-of-pocket costs that surpass the cash-pay option.
To minimize costs, we recommend contacting the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% for upfront payment. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, it is advisable to request a full itemized statement before agreeing to payment terms to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered. While the facility's facility rating is 4, the key takeaway is that the most accurate benchmark for fair pricing is the Medicare rate rather than the hospital's gross chargemaster, ensuring you understand the true cost relative to federal standards.