Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Republic County Hospital
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,739
- Cash Discount Price: $1,418
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.12x 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 312% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 212%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Carriers-All Plans | $1,606 | 288% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $1,701 | 305% |
| Aetna | $1,701 | 305% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,739 | 312% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $1,796 | 322% |
| Cigna | $1,796 | 322% |
| First Health-All Plans | $1,796 | 322% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) at Republic County Hospital in Belleville, KS, the facility's cash price of $1,418 is lower than the median negotiated rate of $1,701 paid by insurance carriers. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a voluntary non-profit ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial insurance rates often exceed cash prices due to administrative overhead and contract dynamics. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price upfront or utilizing a prompt-pay discount may result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to your insurance allowed amount, which averages $1,739 across seven payers.
The facility's pricing is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $558.25, reflecting a common markup in commercial healthcare where negotiated rates can reach 200% to 300% of the federal baseline. To ensure you are not overcharged, we recommend requesting a full itemized bill to verify that no services were unbundled or that charges for items not rendered are included. If you receive a balance bill for out-of-network ancillary services, you may have protections under the No Surprises Act, and you should dispute any unexpected charges in writing rather than paying immediately. Always confirm with the hospital whether "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts are available before scheduling your appointment.