Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Graham County Hospital
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,559
- Cash Discount Price: $2,000
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.79x 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 279% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 179%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $81 | 15% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $81 - $1,900 | 15% |
| Medicare (plans) | $1,500 | 269% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,517 | 272% |
| Celtic Commercial-All Other Plans | $1,650 | 296% |
| Wppa (Providers Care)-All Plans | $1,900 | 340% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) procedure at Graham County Hospital in Hill City, Kansas, the cash price is $2,000, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate. This price is significantly higher than the state average, which is approximately $1,650, and also exceeds the Medicare benchmark of $558.25. While commercial insurance plans like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated rates ranging from $1,517 to $1,900, these amounts remain well above the cash price. For patients with high-deductible plans, paying the $2,000 cash rate upfront may be more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the negotiated rates paid by payers often exceed the cash price. Additionally, patients should verify if the facility offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50% if settled in full before or shortly after the service.
To ensure you are receiving the most accurate pricing, it is important to request an itemized billing audit rather than accepting a summary bill. Hospitals often issue broad category totals that obscure individual charges, but an itemized statement reveals the exact CPT codes and unit costs, helping to identify errors, unbundled services, or charges for items not rendered. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, reviewing the line-by-line details is the most effective way to reduce medical debt. Furthermore, when comparing costs, always use the Medicare rate as the objective baseline rather than the hospital's gross chargemaster list, as commercial rates often include administrative markups that inflate the perceived savings. If you encounter