Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Ellsworth County Medical Center
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,778
- Cash Discount Price: $1,975
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.18x 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 318% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 218%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Va Ccn-All Plans | $928 | 166% |
| Healthy Blue Mcr Adv | $928 | 166% |
| Triwest -All Plans | $928 | 166% |
| Humana | $928 - $1,876 | 166% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,284 - $1,975 | 230% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,441 - $1,517 | 258% |
| Aetna | $1,778 | 318% |
| First Health - All Plans | $1,778 | 318% |
| Cigna | $1,876 | 336% |
| Healthy Blue Mcaid- All Other Plans | $1,975 | 354% |
| Coventry Mcaid-All Plans | $1,975 | 354% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,975 | 354% |
| Providers Care-Wppa-All Plans | $2,962 | 531% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) at Ellsworth County Medical Center in Ellsworth, KS, the cash price is $1,975, which matches the facility's gross charge. While the facility's negotiated rates for in-network plans range from $928 to $2,962, the cash price is notably lower than the highest negotiated rates found for some payers, such as Providers Care-Wppa-All Plans at $2,962. However, it is important to note that the cash price is higher than the median negotiated rate of $1,778 and the median paid amount of $1,531. Patients with high-deductible plans or those who have not yet met their out-of-pocket maximum may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than relying on insurance, as the insurer's allowed amount could exceed the cash rate. 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 paid in full upfront.
The Medicare benchmark for this service is $558.25, which serves as a critical baseline for evaluating pricing fairness. The facility's cash price of $1,975 represents a markup of 3.2 times the Medicare rate, which is significantly higher than the typical fair pricing range of 120% to 150% of Medicare. This substantial difference highlights the importance of comparing commercial rates against the Medicare benchmark rather than the inflated chargemaster list. If a patient receives care from an out-of-network provider or encounters unexpected ancillary services, they may face balance billing for