Ultrasound, leg veins (duplex)
Facility: St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City
Billing Code: 93970 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93970
- Insurance Median: $714
- Cash Discount Price: $692
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.93x 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 $243.77 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 293% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 193%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Humana | $131 - $152 | 54% |
| Kansas Health | $131 | 54% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $131 - $1,339 | 54% |
| Kaiser | $131 - $636 | 54% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $131 - $1,024 | 54% |
| Cigna | $131 - $471 | 54% |
| Aetna | $131 - $1,270 | 54% |
| Medicare (plans) | $131 - $152 | 54% |
| Innovage | $152 | 62% |
| Devoted Health | $152 | 62% |
| Centura Employee Plan | $293 | 120% |
| Denver Health | $545 | 224% |
| Direct To Employer | $623 - $923 | 256% |
| Wpaa | $807 | 331% |
| United Colorado Doctor'S Plan | $866 | 355% |
| Peak Health | $900 - $1,085 | 369% |
| Christian Health Aid | $923 | 379% |
| Multiplan | $1,038 - $1,962 | 426% |
| Health Partners Of Kansas | $1,119 | 459% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 93970, representing an ultrasound of leg veins, St. Catherine Hospital - Garden City in Garden City, KS, has a cash median price of $692.00 and a median negotiated rate of $714.00. This cash price is significantly lower than the facility's gross charge of $1,731.00, offering a substantial discount for self-pay patients. While the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned acute care hospital, patients should be aware that their insurance negotiated rates vary widely; for instance, UnitedHealthcare plans range from $131 to $1,339, whereas Medicare plans are capped at $152. Because commercial negotiated rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics, individuals with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash median of $692.00 upfront more cost-effective than relying on insurance, provided they have not yet met their deductible.
To ensure you are receiving the most accurate pricing, it is crucial to request an itemized billing audit before finalizing payment, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or services not rendered. Instead of accepting a summary bill that obscures individual charges, demand a detailed statement showing specific CPT codes to identify any discrepancies. Additionally, since the facility offers a prompt-pay discount for upfront payment, you should explicitly ask for self-pay or prompt-pay rates prior to scheduling your visit to avoid automatic claims submission that could void these savings. By comparing the facility's cash rate against the Medicare benchmark of $243.77 and understanding that commercial rates often mark up the true cost by