Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Phillips County Hospital
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,942
- Cash Discount Price: $1,676
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.48x 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 348% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 248%). 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 | $1,532 - $1,714 | 274% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,554 - $2,116 | 278% |
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,942 - $2,116 | 348% |
| Health Partners-All Plans | $1,942 - $2,116 | 348% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) procedure at Phillips County Hospital in Phillipsburg, KS, the facility's cash median price is $1,676, while the median negotiated rate across four payers is $1,942. This data indicates that paying out-of-pocket directly can be more cost-effective than using insurance for this specific service, as the cash price is lower than the average amount insurers negotiate. Patients with high-deductible plans should consider paying cash upfront to avoid the administrative costs and potential higher negotiated rates associated with insurance billing. It is important to verify if the hospital offers "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can further reduce the final amount owed by paying in full before or shortly after the procedure.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against the Medicare rate of $558.25, which serves as the federal baseline for healthcare costs. While the gross charge listed is $1,972, the actual negotiated amounts paid by insurers range from $1,532 to $2,116 depending on the specific plan. Consumers should be aware that commercial rates often include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can inflate the final price compared to the true cost of care represented by Medicare. If a patient receives a bill that exceeds the negotiated rate, they should request an itemized billing audit to identify errors, unbundled codes, or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies that can be corrected.