Dr. Margaret Costello , RN, ARNP
High MarkupHigher Out-of-Pocket Billing Risk
This practice submits charges that average 4.0 times customary allowable rates. If you have not met your annual health insurance deductible, or if this doctor is out-of-network with your health plan, you may face significant balance billing.
- Confirm network status: Call your insurer to confirm this specific physician and office address are in-network.
- Request in-network labs: Before blood draws or biopsies, ask the nurse to send samples exclusively to an in-network commercial laboratory.
- Ask for a written estimate: Under the No Surprises Act, you are legally entitled to a Good Faith Estimate if you are self-pay or out-of-network.
Balanced Practice
Maintains a steady clinical rhythm balancing focused physical examination with patient discussion.
How is appointment length calculated?
Visit durations reflect official documentation standards for Evaluation and Management (E/M) office billing codes (CPT 99202 through 99215).
Physicians who bill higher-level comprehensive visits (such as 99214 and 99215) consistently spend 30 to 45 minutes reviewing complex records and discussing care plans, whereas routine refill clinics predominantly bill briefer level 2 and 3 codes.
Appointment Length & Visit Style
Clinical appointment coding analysis across standard patient evaluations
Dr. Costello maintains a focused, rapid visit cadence suited for straightforward checkups and procedural follow-ups.
Pricing Transparency & Fee Comparison
How this provider bills compared to standard insurance benchmarks
⚠️ Price Outlier Warning: Dr. Costello's submitted charges are significantly higher than peer medians (over 4.04x the baseline standard). If you receive treatment out-of-network or without insurance, you could face substantial bills. Confirm in-network participation with your health plan prior to booking.
Verified Clinical Procedures & Surgical Focus
Official annual procedure volumes, customary fee comparisons, and clinical focus areas.
| Clinical Procedure & Code | Annual Services | Doctor Charge | Peer Norm | Standard Baseline | vs. Peer Norm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HCPCS J7345 | 5,600 | $12.00 | $2.60 | $1.63 | 4.62x |
CPT 17003 | 380 | $18.78 | $18.40 | $5.32 | 1.02x |
CPT 99213 | 351 | $254.97 | $168.44 | $72.16 | 1.51x |
CPT 17110 | 241 | $317.60 | $222.52 | $88.80 | 1.43x |
CPT 17000 | 198 | $188.24 | $143.26 | $40.39 | 1.31x |
CPT 11102 | 172 | $284.01 | $208.80 | $71.55 | 1.36x |
CPT 99212 | 129 | $158.76 | $104.00 | $44.96 | 1.53x |
CPT 11103 | 80 | $140.88 | $105.69 | $39.89 | 1.33x |
Other Nurse Practitioner Doctors in Missouri
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👨⚕️ Physician & Medical Billing Intelligence (Click to view professional coding data)Expand ↓
This section provides clinical practice analytics for healthcare administrators, billing coders, and peer physicians evaluating practice benchmarks:
Estimated appointment time calculation: 24 minutes. Indicates the proportion of high-complexity (99205/99215) vs. moderate-complexity (99204/99214) documentation relative to national specialty peers.
Gross charge multiplier: 4.04x. Useful for fee schedule alignment, out-of-network charge master analysis, and payer contract negotiations.
Patient Guidance: What to Ask Before Your Appointment
- In-Network Confirmation: Confirm directly with your insurance plan that Dr. Costello participates in your specific network tier.
- Surgical Facility Fees: If having surgery, verify whether it will be in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center. Facility charges are billed separately from physician fees.
- Written Estimates: If you are paying out of pocket or have a high deductible, request a written good-faith estimate before major treatments.