Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: St Luke Hospital & Living Center
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,142
- Cash Discount Price: Unavailable
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.05x 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 205% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 105%). 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 | $1,142 | 205% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,142 | 205% |
| Humana | $1,142 | 205% |
| Kansas Department Of Health And Environment | $1,142 | 205% |
| Bluestem Pace | $1,142 | 205% |
| Va Ccn | $1,142 | 205% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,154 | 207% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) service at St Luke Hospital & Living Center in Marion, KS, the facility's negotiated rate is $1,142, which aligns exactly with the lowest and highest rates reported across all seven payers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana. This consistent negotiated amount is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $558.25, reflecting the standard administrative markup inherent in commercial insurance contracts. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by a Government Hospital District, patients should be aware that cash-pay options are not listed for this specific code; however, it is always prudent to contact the billing department directly to inquire about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts, which can sometimes offer substantial savings if your insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price.
To ensure you are receiving the most accurate pricing, we recommend requesting a full itemized bill rather than accepting a summary invoice, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors such as double-billing or unbundled codes. Since this service is covered under a specific CPT code with a fixed negotiated rate, balance billing is unlikely to occur for in-network members, but you should verify your deductible status before scheduling to avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs. If you receive a bill that appears higher than the $1,142 negotiated rate, you have the right to request a formal written audit to dispute any inaccuracies, ensuring that your final charge reflects the actual contracted amount rather than inflated list prices.