Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected
What Medicare pays for 0240U, what providers bill, and how the price varies across 33 states, drawn from CMS 2023 claims data.
0240U · the short answer
For respiratory infectious agent detection by rna for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (covid-19), influenza a, and influenza b) in upper respiratory specimen, each reported as detected or not detected, Medicare pays about $139.71 while providers bill $287.42 on average, a 2.1× markup, one of the smaller markups in the catalog. State-level Medicare rates range 11% from lowest to highest.
- Medicare pays
- $139.71
- Providers bill
- $287.42
- Markup
- 2.1×
- Markup percentile
- 9th
Medicare amounts are CMS-published; markup = average submitted charge ÷ average Medicare payment.
Price Range Across States
What You Might Pay
Estimated using RAND 2024 commercial-to-Medicare ratios. Actual prices vary by insurer, plan, and facility.
How we estimate these prices
These estimates are based on the RAND Hospital Price Transparency Study (4th Edition, 2024), which found that commercial insurance prices average 224% of Medicare rates nationally. We apply category-specific ratios: Vaccines & Injections procedures average 2.24x Medicare rates. Cash/self-pay estimates blend typical cash discounts (55% of billed charges) with Medicare-based estimates (150% of allowed amounts). These are statistical estimates, not quotes. Contact your insurer or provider for actual costs.
Where this markup sits nationally
Markup (billed ÷ Medicare) across 8,901 procedures with a meaningful Medicare rate
2 more affordable than 9% of 8,901 procedures
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more procedures. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners · 2023
Prices by State
| State | Medicare Payment | Billed Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $139.78 | $679.58 |
| Arizona | $139.78 | $259.19 |
| Illinois | $139.78 | $300.80 |
| Michigan | $139.78 | $284.48 |
| New Hampshire | $139.78 | $169.27 |
| New Jersey | $139.78 | $216.50 |
| New Mexico | $139.78 | $200.00 |
| New York | $139.78 | $429.42 |
| South Carolina | $139.78 | $169.17 |
| Florida | $139.77 | $204.09 |
| California | $139.76 | $301.71 |
| Kansas | $139.68 | $264.42 |
| Minnesota | $139.47 | $298.80 |
| North Dakota | $139.39 | $389.38 |
| South Dakota | $139.39 | $217.73 |
| Virginia | $139.38 | $252.14 |
| Colorado | $139.32 | $187.53 |
| Missouri | $139.12 | $318.31 |
| Arkansas | $138.97 | $270.08 |
| Texas | $138.88 | $297.68 |
| North Carolina | $138.62 | $203.90 |
| Iowa | $138.50 | $313.90 |
| Ohio | $138.45 | $233.67 |
| Washington | $138.45 | $178.81 |
| Pennsylvania | $137.95 | $306.67 |
| Tennessee | $137.90 | $241.94 |
| Oklahoma | $137.81 | $439.51 |
| Maryland | $137.54 | $297.26 |
| Nebraska | $137.45 | $155.65 |
| Wisconsin | $137.26 | $310.69 |
| Georgia | $136.10 | $265.26 |
| Alabama | $126.68 | $158.55 |
| Oregon | $125.54 | $222.76 |
What the Data Says About Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected
Across 33 states with reporting providers, CPT code 0240U (Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected) shows a national average Medicare payment of $139.71 against an average billed charge of $287.42. That gap, a 2.1x markup, or 106% above the Medicare allowed amount, is among the tightest billed-to-paid spreads we track, this code's chargemaster rate tracks unusually close to the Medicare benchmark.
Vaccines & Injections procedures like this one saw 201.5K services billed to Medicare in 2023 by 1.4K distinct providers, serving 169.8K unique beneficiaries. State-level variation is significant: Oregon reports the lowest average payment at $125.54, while Alaska reports the highest at $139.78. At just 11%, this procedure prices remarkably consistently nationwide, GPCI adjustments barely move the needle for this particular code.
Applying RAND 2024 commercial-to-Medicare ratios specific to the Vaccines & Injections category (2.24x), the estimated commercial insurance price lands near $312.95, with self-pay cash discounts commonly bringing the figure closer to $183.82. Within Vaccines & Injections, Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected ranks #13 of 91 tracked procedures by national average Medicare payment.
What to do with this
If you may have respiratory infectious agent detection by rna for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (covid-19), influenza a, and influenza b) in upper respiratory specimen, each reported as detected or not detected done, these steps turn the numbers above into a real-world cost estimate.
- Request a Good Faith Estimate from your provider at least 3 business days before a scheduled procedure, under the No Surprises Act it is an enforceable written price.
- Compare respiratory infectious agent detection by rna for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (covid-19), influenza a, and influenza b) in upper respiratory specimen, each reported as detected or not detected costs in your state, Medicare rates vary by locality. Browse states
- Check a hospital’s published cash price, which is often far below the billed charge. Price transparency
- Understand why billed charges run several times the Medicare rate before you negotiate. Read the guide
Figures here are averages and estimates, not a quote. Confirm coverage and out-of-pocket costs with your insurer and provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected cost?
Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected (CPT 0240U) is priced fairly consistently nationwide: Medicare pays $139.71 on average, and the $125.54-$139.78 state range stays relatively tight. Providers typically bill $287.42.
Why do providers charge more than Medicare pays?
Providers set their own chargemaster rates (billed charges), which are typically much higher than what any insurer pays. Medicare pays a fixed rate based on the procedure code and geographic location. The billed charge is relevant mainly for uninsured patients, who may face prices closer to the submitted charge.
How much does Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected cost with insurance?
With commercial insurance, respiratory infectious agent detection by rna for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (covid-19), influenza a, and influenza b) in upper respiratory specimen, each reported as detected or not detected costs an estimated $312.95 on average (range: $219.06-$438.13), a moderate premium over Medicare's $139.71. Without insurance, the estimated cash price is $183.82.
Which state has the lowest cost for Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected?
Oregon and Alaska bookend the range for Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected, at $125.54 and $139.78 respectively - a relatively tight $14.24 spread nationwide.
How many providers perform Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected?
A moderate provider base performs Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected: 1.4K providers nationally, totaling 201.5K Medicare-billed services (169.8K beneficiaries) across 33 states in 2023.
What is the billed-to-Medicare markup for Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected?
Providers bill 2.1x what Medicare pays for Respiratory Infectious Agent Detection By Rna For Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (covid-19), Influenza A, And Influenza B) In Upper Respiratory Specimen, Each Reported As Detected Or Not Detected - one of the smaller markups in the catalog at 106% above the Medicare rate.
Related Guides
Tips to reduce out-of-pocket costs
Your right to upfront pricing
How Medicare payments work
Decode charges and codes
Why bills exceed actual costs
Geographic pricing factors
Data from CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners (2023).
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Every figure on PlainProcedure is rendered directly from CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on CMS Medicare Physician & Other Practitioners data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.