Blood test, thyroid (TSH)
Facility: Northeast Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 84443 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 84443
- Insurance Median: $320
- Cash Discount Price: $355
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 19.05x 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 $16.8 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 1905% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 1805%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Node Champva | $15 | 89% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $15 - $25 | 89% |
| Tricare | $15 | 89% |
| Medicare (plans) | $16 | 95% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $17 - $674 | 101% |
| Node Devoted Health McR Adv | $17 | 101% |
| Blue Prefrerred | $17 | 101% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $17 - $274 | 101% |
| Blue Pathway/Pathway X | $17 | 101% |
| Blue Access | $17 | 101% |
| Node VA | $17 | 101% |
| Node Hospice Non Par Agree | $17 | 101% |
| Veterans Eval Services | $17 | 101% |
| Us Department of Labor | $21 | 125% |
| Centurion Correctional | $21 | 125% |
| Home State Exchange | $30 | 179% |
| Naphcare | $32 | 190% |
| Immergrun | $34 | 202% |
| Self Pay | $216 - $495 | 1286% |
| Cigna | $306 - $352 | 1821% |
| Aetna | $335 - $750 | 1994% |
| Access Health Services, LLC | $585 | 3482% |
| Multiplan | $674 - $719 | 4012% |
| Healthlink | $674 - $719 | 4012% |
| Coventry Wc | $719 | 4280% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
At Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, MO, the cash median price for a blood test, thyroid (TSH) is $355. This facility is a Proprietary Acute Care Hospital located at 315 S Osteopathy with a facility rating of 2. While the cash price is often the lowest option, patients should note that many commercial insurers charge negotiated rates that exceed this amount; for instance, the Aetna plan range spans from $335 to $750, and UnitedHealthcare ranges from $17 to $674. Because insurance negotiated rates can sometimes be higher than the cash price, patients with high-deductible plans may find it financially beneficial to pay cash directly, provided they confirm that the facility will not submit a claim to their insurer.
For patients relying on insurance, the allowed amounts vary significantly across payers, with the lowest negotiated rate being $15 (Medicaid / KanCare) and the highest being $750 (Aetna). The Medicare allowed amount for this service is $16.8, which serves as a key benchmark for understanding the true cost relative to commercial pricing. Patients should be aware that balance billing may occur if they receive care from out-of-network providers or services that are not covered by their plan, potentially resulting in unexpected bills for the difference between the provider's chargemaster rate and the insurer's allowed amount. To avoid these surprises, it is recommended to request a self-pay or prompt-pay discount of up to 50% before scheduling, and to always demand an itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice that obscures individual charges.