Blood test, hemoglobin
Facility: Salina Regional Health Center
Billing Code: 85018 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 85018
- Insurance Median: $26
- Cash Discount Price: $20
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 10.97x 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 $2.37 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 1097% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 997%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $6 | 253% |
| Preferred Phsic | $17 | 717% |
| Preferred Healthcare - All Other Plans | $23 | 970% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $26 | 1097% |
| Multiplan (Mpi)-All Plans | $26 | 1097% |
| Aetna | $26 | 1097% |
| Cigna | $26 | 1097% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test procedure at Salina Regional Health Center, the facility's cash price of $20.00 is notably lower than the state average of $23.00 and the negotiated rate of $26.00. While commercial insurance plans like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna typically pay a median of $23.00, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective, as it avoids potential deductibles and co-pays. It is important to note that while the facility is an in-network provider for these payers, the cash rate remains the lowest option available, suggesting that self-pay classification could result in immediate savings compared to standard insurance billing.
Patients should be aware that hospitals often offer additional discounts for prompt payment, which can further reduce the final bill. Although the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, it is still advisable to request a self-pay or prompt-pay discount before scheduling to ensure you are not charged the full chargemaster rate. If you receive a bill that appears higher than the cash or negotiated rates listed here, you should request an itemized audit to verify that no unbundled codes or services not rendered were included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written dispute.