Blood test, magnesium
Facility: Children'S Mercy South
Billing Code: 83735 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 83735
- Insurance Median: $51
- Cash Discount Price: $38
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $6 - $53 | 90% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $8 | 119% |
| Healthy Blue | $8 - $18 | 119% |
| Home State Health | $16 | 239% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $32 - $58 | 478% |
| Cigna | $38 - $55 | 567% |
| Medica | $46 | 687% |
| Aetna | $47 - $54 | 701% |
| Centivo | $51 | 761% |
| Orscheln | $51 | 761% |
| Quiktrip | $51 | 761% |
| Nebraska Furniture Mart | $51 | 761% |
| Wppa Providrs Care | $51 | 761% |
| Wellfit/Centrus | $51 | 761% |
| Health Midwest Comprehensive Care | $51 | 761% |
| Humana | $53 | 791% |
| Coventry Health Care Of Kansas | $58 | 866% |
| Coxhealth Network | $58 | 866% |
| Mercy Health | $59 | 881% |
| Multiplan | $60 | 896% |
| American Healthcare Alliance | $67 | 1000% |
| Healthlink | $70 | 1045% |
| National Preferred Provider Network | $71 | 1060% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 83735 (Blood test, magnesium) at Children's Mercy South in Overland Park, KS, the facility's cash price of $38.00 is lower than the state average of $51.00. While many insurance plans negotiate rates ranging from $6 to $71, these in-network amounts are often higher than the cash price due to administrative costs and contract structures. Patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially beneficial to pay the cash price directly, as the negotiated rates paid by insurers can sometimes exceed the out-of-pocket cost of paying cash upfront. It is important to verify the specific allowed amount for your plan before scheduling, as in-network rates vary significantly by carrier and can sometimes be substantially higher than the facility's self-pay rate.
To minimize costs, patients should proactively ask the billing department about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full before or shortly after the service. These discounts bypass the complex insurance claims process, saving the facility administrative fees that are often included in the higher negotiated rates. Additionally, while the facility's cash price is lower than the state average, it is important to note that the Medicare benchmark for this service is $6.70, which serves as a baseline for fair pricing. Commercial negotiated rates often average between 200% and 300% of the Medicare amount, so comparing your specific plan's allowed amount to the Medicare rate provides a clearer picture of whether the facility's pricing is reasonable. Always request an itemized bill to ensure all charges are accurate and to identify any potential errors before