Blood test, vitamin D
Facility: Children'S Mercy South
Billing Code: 82306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82306
- Insurance Median: $202
- Cash Discount Price: $149
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 6.82x 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 $29.6 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 682% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 582%). 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 | $26 - $209 | 88% |
| Healthy Blue | $28 - $81 | 95% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $29 | 98% |
| Home State Health | $71 | 240% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $128 - $230 | 432% |
| Cigna | $149 - $216 | 503% |
| Medica | $181 | 611% |
| Aetna | $187 - $211 | 632% |
| Orscheln | $202 | 682% |
| Wppa Providrs Care | $202 | 682% |
| Wellfit/Centrus | $202 | 682% |
| Centivo | $202 | 682% |
| Quiktrip | $202 | 682% |
| Health Midwest Comprehensive Care | $202 | 682% |
| Nebraska Furniture Mart | $202 | 682% |
| Humana | $207 | 699% |
| Coventry Health Care Of Kansas | $230 | 777% |
| Coxhealth Network | $230 | 777% |
| Mercy Health | $233 | 787% |
| Multiplan | $236 | 797% |
| American Healthcare Alliance | $264 | 892% |
| Healthlink | $274 | 926% |
| National Preferred Provider Network | $280 | 946% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the vitamin D blood test (CPT 82306) at Children's Mercy South in Overland Park, KS, the facility's cash price of $149 is significantly lower than the negotiated rates paid by most major insurers. While the facility's cash rate is roughly 50% of the gross charge of $311, many commercial payers negotiate rates ranging from $26 to $280, with the median negotiated amount standing at $202. This creates a scenario where patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance might save money by paying the cash price directly, provided they secure a prompt-pay discount before scheduling. It is crucial to ask the billing department about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts upfront and to request a waiver of insurance submission to ensure the lower cash rate applies rather than triggering an automatic claim that could result in higher costs.
When evaluating the value of this service, it is important to compare the facility's pricing against federal benchmarks rather than the hospital's inflated list price. The Medicare amount for this procedure is $29.60, and the facility's cash rate of $149 represents approximately 500% of the Medicare benchmark, which is substantially higher than the typical fair pricing range of 120% to 150% of Medicare. Although the facility is a voluntary non-profit, patients should be aware that balance billing is generally prohibited for in-network services under the No Surprises Act, meaning they should not be billed for the difference between the negotiated rate and the cash price if they utilize their insurance. To avoid unexpected charges, patients should verify their specific plan's allowed amount and ensure they are not signing away rights to