Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,820
- Cash Discount Price: $1,724
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.26x 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 326% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 226%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | $558 - $1,916 | 100% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,532 | 274% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $1,629 | 292% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $1,724 | 309% |
| Aetna | $1,724 | 309% |
| First Health-All Plans | $1,724 | 309% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $1,820 | 326% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $1,820 | 326% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $1,820 | 326% |
| Cigna | $1,897 | 340% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $1,897 | 340% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) service at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, KS, the cash price of $1,724 is lower than the facility's negotiated rates, which range from $1,532 to $1,916 depending on the insurance carrier. While the facility's cash rate is slightly higher than the state average of $1,724, it remains significantly lower than the gross chargemaster price of $1,916. Patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price directly more cost-effective than using insurance, as the negotiated rates for in-network payers like UnitedHealthcare and Cigna often exceed the cash amount. To secure the lowest possible rate, patients should explicitly request a "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discount before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can further reduce the final bill.
It is important to understand that commercial insurance rates are often inflated by administrative costs and contract structures, making the Medicare rate of $558.25 a more accurate benchmark for fair pricing. Although the facility is a Critical Access Hospital with government local ownership, the commercial negotiated rates average 3.3 times the Medicare amount, which is higher than the typical 200% to 300% markup seen across the industry. If you receive a bill that includes charges for services not rendered, unbundled codes, or out-of-network ancillary services, you should demand a full itemized audit before paying. Remember that the No Surprises Act protects you from balance billing for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities, so any surprise bill should be disputed immediately with your insurer rather than paid