Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Mcpherson Hospital
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $503
- Cash Discount Price: $1,349
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.90x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tricare | $57 - $442 | 10% |
| Wellcare Mcr Adv - All Plans | $65 - $503 | 12% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $65 - $503 | 12% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $65 - $3,147 | 12% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $65 - $503 | 12% |
| Aetna | $65 - $3,147 | 12% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $65 - $503 | 12% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $65 - $578 | 12% |
| Humana | $65 - $503 | 12% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $80 - $2,832 | 14% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $178 - $3,147 | 32% |
| Health Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $182 - $3,210 | 33% |
| Medical Associates - All Plans | $375 - $2,360 | 67% |
| Central Plains - All Plans | $375 - $2,360 | 67% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $475 - $2,990 | 85% |
| Cigna | $475 - $2,990 | 85% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $2,203 | 395% |
| Christian Health Aid - All Plans | $2,518 | 451% |
| First Health - All Plans | $2,990 | 536% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) procedure at McPherson Hospital in McPherson, Kansas, the cash price is $1,349, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates with most major insurers. While the hospital's gross charge is $1,824, commercial payers typically negotiate rates ranging from $57 to $3,210 depending on the plan, with a median negotiated amount of $503. It is important to note that while insurance often negotiates a lower rate than the cash price, patients with high-deductible plans may find the cash price more affordable if their out-of-pocket costs exceed the difference between the cash rate and the insurance allowed amount. Additionally, patients should verify if "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available, as paying in full upfront can sometimes result in a fee reduction that bypasses the administrative costs associated with insurance billing cycles.
The facility's pricing is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark for this service, which stands at $558.25. This comparison highlights that commercial rates often include markups for administrative processing and network management, with fair pricing typically defined as 120% to 150% of the Medicare rate. While the hospital is a voluntary non-profit acute care facility, the wide variance in negotiated rates across different payers—from as low as $57 with Tricare to over $2,900 with First Health—underscores the importance of checking specific plan details before scheduling. To ensure you are not overcharged, we recommend requesting an itemized bill to review every line item for potential errors, such as unbundled codes or services not rendered, as over