Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $512
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 0.92x 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Via Christi Research | $507 | 91% |
| Vc Hope | $507 | 91% |
| Saint Lukes Health Systems | $507 | 91% |
| Medicare (plans) | $507 - $517 | 91% |
| Va | $507 | 91% |
| Humana | $507 | 91% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $517 | 93% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $517 - $1,420 | 93% |
| Corizon | $634 | 114% |
| Smarthealth | $710 | 127% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $862 | 154% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) service at Via Christi Hospital Wichita St Teresa, Inc, the negotiated rates range from $507 to $1,420 depending on your specific insurance plan. While the facility is a voluntary non-profit church-owned hospital in Wichita, KS, the data shows a significant spread in allowed amounts, with UnitedHealthcare allowing up to $1,420 compared to a median negotiated rate of $512 across other payers. It is important to note that these negotiated rates often exceed the actual cost of care due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics; for instance, commercial rates can average 200% to 300% of the Medicare benchmark of $558.25 for this procedure. Patients should be aware that being in-network does not guarantee the lowest possible price, as different insurers have distinct contract ceilings that may vary significantly from one another.
If you are paying out-of-pocket, you might find that cash prices are lower than your insurance allowed amount, particularly if you have a high-deductible plan where the negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. In such cases, paying directly could result in lower out-of-pocket costs, though the facility's cash median is not currently listed in this report. To maximize savings, we strongly recommend asking the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, which can reduce bills by 20% to 50% when paid upfront. Additionally, since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, do not accept a summary bill as final; instead, request a full itemized statement to verify that all charges are accurate and that no services were unbundled or double-b