Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Ellinwood District Hospital
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,390
- Cash Discount Price: $1,687
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.49x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 249% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 149%). 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 | $1,390 | 249% |
| Aetna | $1,390 | 249% |
| Cigna | $1,390 | 249% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,390 | 249% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,390 | 249% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) at Ellinwood District Hospital in Ellinwood, KS, the facility's negotiated rate of $1,390 is consistent across all five major payers, including Humana, Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare. This negotiated amount is significantly higher than the cash median of $1,687, meaning patients paying out-of-pocket directly would actually pay less than what their insurance plans are contractually allowed to pay. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, the data indicates that the negotiated rate aligns perfectly with the median paid for this service, suggesting no variation based on specific insurance plans.
To minimize costs, patients should verify if the hospital offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill. It is important to note that while the facility's negotiated rate matches the median paid, the Medicare benchmark for this procedure is $558.25, which serves as the objective baseline for evaluating pricing fairness. Commercial rates often exceed Medicare benchmarks due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics, but in this specific case, the negotiated rate of $1,390 represents the standard allowed amount for in-network members. Patients are advised to request an itemized bill to ensure no unexpected charges are included, as summary bills may obscure individual line items.