Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Fredonia Regional Hospital
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,774
- Cash Discount Price: $2,143
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.18x 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 318% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 218%). 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 | $1,060 - $1,532 | 190% |
| Veterans Programs - All Plans | $1,093 | 196% |
| Aetna | $1,093 - $1,929 | 196% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,093 - $1,929 | 196% |
| Cigna | $1,929 | 346% |
| Reserve National-All Plans | $1,929 | 346% |
| Meritain-All Plans | $1,929 | 346% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For this Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) at Fredonia Regional Hospital in Fredonia, KS, the cash price is $2,143, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate. While the hospital is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, the cash price is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $558.25, reflecting a markup of 3.2 times the federal rate. Commercial insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna, negotiate rates ranging from $1,060 to $1,929, which are generally lower than the cash price but still represent a substantial portion of the total cost. Patients with high-deductible plans may find that paying the cash price upfront is more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates often exceed the cash amount, and hospitals frequently offer prompt-pay discounts that can further reduce the final bill.
It is important to note that while the No Surprises Act protects patients from balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities, patients should still verify their specific plan details before scheduling. Since the facility is in-network for seven major payers, the allowed amounts are contractually capped, but these rates do not account for potential administrative fees or specific plan deductibles. To minimize costs, patients should request a formal itemized billing audit to ensure no unbundled codes or services not rendered are included, and they should explicitly ask the billing department about self-pay or prompt-pay discounts prior to check-in. Relying on summary bills or verbal agreements can lead to unexpected charges, so obtaining a written waiver of insurance submission and a detailed line-item statement is essential for accurate financial planning.