Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Hospital District #6 Patterson Health Center
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,688
- Cash Discount Price: $1,500
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.02x 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 302% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 202%). 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 | $1,441 - $1,517 | 258% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,688 - $1,875 | 302% |
| Providers Care (Wppa)-All Plans | $3,281 | 588% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) at Hospital District #6 Patterson Health Center in Anthony, KS, the negotiated rates for in-network payers like Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare range from $1,441 to $1,875, with a median paid amount of $1,688. This negotiated rate is significantly higher than the facility's cash price of $1,500, meaning patients with high-deductible plans or those without insurance may save money by paying cash directly. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the government, the data indicates that the commercial negotiated rates are approximately three times the Medicare benchmark of $558.25, highlighting the substantial markup often found in commercial contracts.
To minimize costs, patients should proactively request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling their appointment, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the bill by 20% to 50%. It is important to note that even though the facility is in-network for major insurers, the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for emergency care or non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at this in-network hospital. If you receive a bill that seems unusually high, you should demand a full itemized CPT-coded statement to verify that no services were double-billed or unbundled, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute.