Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG)
Facility: Hamilton County Hospital
Billing Code: 93000 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93000
- Insurance Median: $128
- Cash Discount Price: $139
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 8.33x 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 $15.36 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 833% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 733%). 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 | $57 - $122 | 371% |
| First Health Coventry - All Plans | $115 - $122 | 749% |
| Cigna | $128 - $137 | 833% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $128 - $137 | 833% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $144 | 938% |
| Aetna | $244 - $366 | 1589% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the CPT code 93000 (Electrocardiogram) at Hamilton County Hospital in Syracuse, KS, the cash price is $139.00, which matches the facility's median paid amount. This cash rate is significantly lower than the negotiated rates charged to commercial insurers, with the lowest negotiated amount being $128.00 and the highest reaching $366.00. While the facility's cash price is higher than the state average for this service, it remains substantially below the maximum negotiated rates observed across six different payers, including Aetna and Cigna. Patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may find the cash price more affordable than their specific insurance allowed amount, which could exceed the cash rate depending on their plan's negotiated tier.
To minimize out-of-pocket costs, patients should proactively contact the hospital to inquire about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid in full upfront. It is also important to request a detailed, itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as unbundled codes or charges for services not rendered. If a patient receives a balance bill from an out-of-network provider at this in-network facility, they may be entitled to protections under the No Surprises Act, which bans balance billing for emergency and non-emergency services. Finally, comparing the facility's rates to the Medicare benchmark of $15.36 reveals a significant markup, highlighting the importance of verifying the true cost of care against federal standards rather than relying on inflated chargemaster lists.