Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Stormont Vail Hospital
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $297
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.53x 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 $558.25 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $52 - $297 | 9% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $52 - $2,361 | 9% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $52 - $297 | 9% |
| Humana | $494 - $505 | 88% |
| Aetna | $494 - $505 | 88% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) at Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka, KS, the negotiated rates across five major payers range from $52 to $2,971, with a median negotiated payment of $297. This facility's negotiated rate of $297 aligns closely with the lowest end of the spectrum observed for UnitedHealthcare and Ambetter/Centene plans, while significantly lower than the highest negotiated amounts seen for Blue Cross Blue Shield. The facility's cash median is not available in this dataset, but patients with high-deductible plans should note that paying cash upfront can sometimes be cheaper than insurance negotiated rates if the insurer's allowed amount exceeds the cash price. To secure the best possible rate, patients are encouraged to ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% when paid in full before or shortly after the service.
When evaluating the cost of this procedure, it is important to compare rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the hospital's gross chargemaster list. The Medicare amount for this code is $558.25, which serves as a scientifically validated baseline for the true cost of care. While commercial negotiated rates often average between 200% and 300% of the Medicare rate, fair pricing is typically defined as 120% to 150% of this benchmark. In this specific case, the facility's negotiated rate of $297 is approximately 53% of the Medicare amount, indicating a rate that is well below the typical commercial markup. Patients should avoid accepting summary bills that