Blood test, calcium
Facility: Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 82310 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 82310
- Insurance Median: $870
- Cash Discount Price: $34
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 168.60x 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 $5.16 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 16860% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 16760%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Associates Health Plan - Tri | $870 | 16860% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this blood test, calcium service at Regional Medical Center in Manchester, Iowa, the cash median price is $34. This facility, a Critical Access Hospital with a government-local ownership rating of 4, lists a gross charge of $42, while the median negotiated rate with Medical Associates Health Plan - Tri is $870. The Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $5.16, which serves as the federal cost baseline against which commercial rates are typically compared.
While the cash price of $34 is significantly lower than the negotiated rate of $870, patients should note that cash payments can sometimes be more economical than using insurance if the patient's deductible is high, as the commercial rate often exceeds the cash price. Although the data does not provide specific county or state averages for comparison, it is important to verify "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts directly with the hospital before scheduling, as these upfront incentives can further reduce costs. Additionally, if a patient receives a balance bill or a summary bill, they should request an itemized CPT-coded audit to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors.