Folic Acid Level, Rbc

What the Data Says About Folic Acid Level, Rbc

Across 34 states with reporting providers, CPT code 82747 (Folic Acid Level, Rbc) shows a national average Medicare payment of $17.27 against an average billed charge of $116.91. That gap — a 6.8x markup, or 577% above the Medicare allowed amount — reflects chargemaster pricing, not what most insured patients actually pay. Medicare's negotiated rate is the statutory benchmark; commercial insurers typically settle between the two figures based on network contracts.

Laboratory procedures like this one saw 45.0K services billed to Medicare in 2023 by 301 distinct providers, serving 38.1K unique beneficiaries. State-level variation is significant: Hawaii reports the lowest average payment at $16.91, while Colorado reports the highest at $17.30. Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCIs) explain much of that spread — local malpractice premiums, practice expense, and physician work adjustments all shift the allowed amount even when the procedure is identical.

Applying RAND 2024 commercial-to-Medicare ratios specific to the Laboratory category (2.24x), the estimated commercial insurance price lands near $38.69, with self-pay cash discounts commonly bringing the figure closer to $45.10. Uninsured patients facing the full billed charge have the strongest leverage to negotiate — the Hospital Price Transparency Rule (effective January 2021) requires providers to publish standard charges, cash rates, and payer-specific negotiated prices. This data is for educational reference; confirm coverage and out-of-pocket exposure with your insurer before any procedure.