Ultrasound, leg veins (duplex)
Facility: Cheyenne County Hospital
Billing Code: 93970 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93970
- Insurance Median: $841
- Cash Discount Price: $752
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.45x 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 345% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 245%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $476 | 195% |
| First Health - All Plans | $620 | 254% |
| Tricare | $637 | 261% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $637 - $885 | 261% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $637 | 261% |
| Aetna | $637 - $841 | 261% |
| Choice Care - All Plans | $644 | 264% |
| Firstguard - All Plans | $708 | 290% |
| Wppa - All Plans | $796 | 327% |
| Cpm - All Plans | $841 | 345% |
| Preferred Hc - All Plans | $841 | 345% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $858 | 352% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $867 | 356% |
| Unicare - All Plans | $867 | 356% |
| Integrated Hp - All Plans | $867 | 356% |
| Ppo Next - All Plans | $867 | 356% |
| Healthwave Mcaid - All Plans | $885 | 363% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid - All Other Plans | $885 | 363% |
| Childrens Mercy - All Plans | $885 | 363% |
| Providers Care-All Plans | $1,328 | 545% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For CPT code 93970, an ultrasound of the leg veins, Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis, KS lists a gross charge of $885.00. The facility's cash median rate is $752.00, which is lower than the state average of $797.00. While many insurance plans negotiate rates ranging from $476 to $1,328, patients with high-deductible plans might find the cash price more affordable if their insurance negotiated rate exceeds $752.00. It is important to note that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and can be significantly higher than the cash price, so verifying your specific plan's allowed amount before scheduling is essential.
Patients should be aware that commercial rates are frequently compared against the Medicare benchmark of $243.77 for this service, which represents the federal government's cost-based reimbursement. Although the facility's negotiated rates average $841.00, which is higher than the Medicare rate, the cash option remains the most direct way to control costs. To minimize potential balance billing or unexpected charges, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount at registration, as these upfront payments often bypass the costly insurance claims cycle. Additionally, if a bill is received, consumers should demand a full itemized statement to review every line item for errors, as over 80% of hospital bills contain mistakes that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.