Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Community Memorial Healthcare, Inc.
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,332
- Cash Discount Price: $1,979
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.39x 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 239% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 139%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna | $910 - $1,583 | 163% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,132 | 203% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,532 | 274% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) procedure at Community Memorial Healthcare, Inc. in Marysville, KS, the cash price is $1,979.00, which matches the facility's median paid amount. This cash rate is significantly higher than the state average, as indicated by a ratio of 2.4 times the Medicare benchmark of $558.25. While the facility offers a negotiated rate of $1,332.00 to in-network payers like Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, patients should note that commercial insurance rates often include administrative overhead and may exceed the cash price. If you have a high-deductible plan, paying the cash price upfront could result in lower out-of-pocket costs compared to the insurance negotiated rate, provided your deductible has not yet been met.
To minimize potential costs, we strongly recommend asking the hospital about "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling your appointment, as these can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% for upfront payment. Additionally, if you are concerned about balance billing or unexpected charges, request a full itemized audit of your bill to verify that all services rendered are accurately coded and that no unbundled charges exist. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, reviewing the detailed line items is a critical step in ensuring you are only paying for what was provided. Always confirm with the billing department whether your specific plan qualifies for the negotiated rate or if the cash option remains the most economical choice for your situation.