Ultrasound, leg veins (duplex)
Facility: Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems
Billing Code: 93970 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93970
- Insurance Median: $889
- Cash Discount Price: $842
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.65x 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 $243.77 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 365% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 265%). 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 | $244 - $936 | 100% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $481 | 197% |
| Triwest Well Mark All Plans | $796 | 327% |
| First Health-All Plans | $842 | 345% |
| Pref Hlth Care Sytms Comm - All Plans | $842 | 345% |
| Aetna | $842 | 345% |
| Auxiant-All Plans | $889 | 365% |
| Multiplan Ppo - All Plans | $889 | 365% |
| Phc Leased Ntwrk Access - All Plans | $889 | 365% |
| Cigna | $927 | 380% |
| Health Partners Ks-All Plans | $927 | 380% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the ultrasound of leg veins (duplex) performed at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems in Beloit, Kansas, the cash price is $842.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate. This cash price is significantly lower than the gross charge of $936.00 and represents a substantial discount compared to the Medicare benchmark of $243.77, where the commercial rate is 3.6 times higher. While many commercial payers, such as UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield, have negotiated rates ranging from $481 to $936, patients with high-deductible plans may find paying the cash price upfront more cost-effective than relying on insurance, which often results in higher out-of-pocket costs due to deductibles and co-pays.
To maximize savings, patients should explicitly request "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront payment incentives can reduce the final bill by 20% to 50%. It is important to avoid balance billing by ensuring the facility is in-network and understanding that the No Surprises Act protects against unexpected out-of-network charges for emergency care and non-emergency services at in-network facilities. If a patient receives an itemized bill, they should review it line-by-line to identify any unbundled codes or services not rendered, as over 80% of hospital bills contain errors that can be corrected through a formal written audit dispute rather than accepting a summary invoice.