Blood test, potassium
Facility: Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 84132 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84132
- Insurance Median: $36
- Cash Discount Price: $17
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 7.56x 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 756% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 656%). 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 | $6 | 126% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $13 | 273% |
| Medicare (plans) | $14 | 294% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $14 - $36 | 294% |
| Humana | $14 | 294% |
| Aetna | $14 - $35 | 294% |
| Kansas Health | $14 | 294% |
| Multiplan | $39 - $40 | 819% |
| Wppa | $41 | 861% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $41 | 861% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the blood test for potassium (CPT 84132) at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, KS, the facility's negotiated rates range from $6 to $41 depending on your specific insurance plan, with the highest rates applying to Multiplan and WPPA. This facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a voluntary non-profit church, and its pricing structure is significantly lower than the typical commercial rates found in the region. While the facility's cash price of $17.00 is notably lower than the median negotiated rate of $36.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying cash upfront is more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash price. It is important to verify your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling, as in-network status does not guarantee the lowest possible price, and you should explicitly ask the billing department about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts to potentially reduce your out-of-pocket costs.
When evaluating the cost against federal standards, the facility's Medicare benchmark amount of $4.76 serves as a reliable baseline for understanding the true cost of this service. The facility's cash price of $17.00 represents a markup of approximately 7.6 times the Medicare rate, which is consistent with the pricing dynamics observed in Kansas. Commercial insurance plans, however, negotiate rates that can vary widely; for instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Humana have a single plan each with a rate of $13 and $14 respectively, while UnitedHealthcare and Aetna have multiple plans with rates ranging up to $36 and $35. To ensure you are not overpaying