Electrocardiogram (EKG, tracing only)
Facility: Meade District Hospital
Billing Code: 93005 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93005
- Insurance Median: $216
- Cash Discount Price: $123
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.58x 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 $60.27 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 358% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 258%). 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 | $216 | 358% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this electrocardiogram (EKG) procedure at Meade District Hospital in Meade, Kansas, the cash price is $123.00, which aligns exactly with the facility's cash median. While the hospital's negotiated rate with Blue Cross Blue Shield is listed at $216.00, this figure exceeds the cash price and may not represent the best financial option for patients with high-deductible plans. In such cases, paying the cash rate of $123.00 upfront can sometimes be cheaper than the insurance negotiated rate, provided the patient's out-of-pocket costs do not exceed the difference. Patients should verify their specific plan details and ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which could further reduce the final amount owed.
It is important to understand that commercial negotiated rates often include administrative overhead and do not reflect the true cost of care, which is better measured against the Medicare benchmark. The Medicare amount for this service is $60.27, meaning the cash price of $123.00 is approximately 3.6 times the Medicare rate. This comparison highlights that the cash price is significantly higher than the federal baseline, yet it remains lower than the insurance negotiated rate. Because hospitals may bill the difference between their full chargemaster and the insurance allowed amount if you are out-of-network, you should request an itemized bill to ensure no errors exist and to confirm that you are not being balance billed for services that should be covered under federal protections.