Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Nemaha Valley Community Hospital
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,413
- Cash Discount Price: $2,240
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.53x 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.
Elevated Commercial Rate Alert (Value-Gap)
The negotiated rate at this facility is 253% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 153%). 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 | $1,095 | 196% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $1,095 | 196% |
| Aetna | $1,106 - $2,116 | 198% |
| Celtic Comm Exch - All Plans | $1,205 | 216% |
| Partners Direct Health - All Plans | $1,294 | 232% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,532 | 274% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $2,240 | 401% |
| Midlands Choice - All Plans | $2,365 | 424% |
| Health Partners - All Plans | $2,365 | 424% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, KS, the facility's cash price of $2,240 is notably higher than the median negotiated rate of $1,294 paid by insurance carriers. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial insurance rates often include administrative overhead and contract premiums that can inflate the final cost. In this specific case, the negotiated rates range from $1,095 to $2,365 depending on the payer, with some plans like Humana and Va Ccn paying the lowest amount of $1,095. It is important to note that for patients with high-deductible plans who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum, paying the cash price of $2,240 upfront could result in lower total costs compared to using insurance, which would require them to pay the full negotiated rate before their deductible is satisfied.
To optimize your financial outcome, we recommend requesting a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount directly from the hospital before scheduling your appointment, as these upfront payment incentives can significantly reduce the bill by bypassing the standard insurance billing cycle. Additionally, since the facility's cash rate is 2.5 times the Medicare benchmark of $558.25, it is crucial to verify your specific plan's negotiated rate rather than assuming the in-network status guarantees the lowest possible price. If you receive a bill after using insurance, always request a detailed, itemized statement to review every code and ensure no services were double-billed or incorrectly charged, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that