Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $51
- Cash Discount Price: $30
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.61x 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 761% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 661%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Centura Employee Plan | $8 | 119% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $18 - $77 | 269% |
| Medicare (plans) | $18 - $30 | 269% |
| Aetna | $18 - $74 | 269% |
| Humana | $18 - $30 | 269% |
| Kansas Health | $18 - $30 | 269% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $34 | 507% |
| Multiplan | $51 - $86 | 761% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $54 - $87 | 806% |
| Wppa | $54 - $88 | 806% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 83735 (Blood test, magnesium) at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, KS, the facility's cash median price is $30.00, which is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by commercial insurers. While the facility's negotiated average is $51.00, commercial payers such as UnitedHealthcare and Aetna have negotiated rates ranging from $18 to $77, often exceeding the cash price. This pricing structure highlights a common billing scenario where patients with high-deductible plans might save money by paying the cash price directly, as the insurance negotiated rate can sometimes be higher than the self-pay amount. Patients should verify their specific plan's deductible status before scheduling, as paying the full negotiated rate may not be covered until that threshold is met.
To ensure you are receiving the most accurate pricing information, it is important to distinguish between the facility's gross charges and the actual rates you will pay. The Medicare benchmark for this service is $6.70, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care, whereas commercial rates often reflect administrative overhead and contract dynamics. Although the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this exact code, the facility's cash rate of $30.00 is notably lower than the commercial negotiated range. We recommend contacting the hospital directly to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final bill by bypassing the administrative costs associated with insurance claims processing.