Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Goodland Regional Medical Center
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,532
- Cash Discount Price: $1,298
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.74x 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 274% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 174%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Wppa | $497 - $2,070 | 89% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $526 - $2,070 | 94% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,532 | 274% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) at Goodland Regional Medical Center in Goodland, KS, the cash median price is $1,298.00, which is lower than the facility's negotiated rates of $1,532.00. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with a government-local ownership structure, patients should be aware that commercial insurance plans like Wppa and UnitedHealthcare have negotiated rates ranging from $526 to $2,070, which often exceed the cash price. Because commercial negotiated rates can be inflated by administrative costs and contract dynamics, paying cash upfront or utilizing a prompt-pay discount may result in a lower out-of-pocket cost compared to using insurance, especially for those with high-deductible plans.
The facility's billing practices align with federal protections under the No Surprises Act, which prohibits balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, though patients should still request an itemized bill to verify all charges. When reviewing the invoice, it is crucial to ensure that no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal audit. Additionally, the facility's pricing is benchmarked against Medicare, where the allowed amount is $558.25; comparing the cash rate of $1,298.00 to this federal baseline provides a clearer picture of the true cost of care than comparing it to the facility's inflated gross charge of $1,443.00.