Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Smith County Memorial Hospital
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,876
- Cash Discount Price: $2,164
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 3.36x 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 336% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 236%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid / KanCare | $1,382 - $2,353 | 248% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,517 | 272% |
| Multiplan-All Plans | $1,778 - $2,118 | 318% |
| Wppa-All Plans | $1,856 - $2,212 | 332% |
| Health Partners Of Ks Ppo-All Plans | $1,876 - $2,235 | 336% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $1,876 - $2,235 | 336% |
| Midlands Choice-All Plans | $1,876 - $2,235 | 336% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) procedure at Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, KS, the cash price is $2,164.00, which matches the facility's median negotiated rate of $1,876.00 and the cash median. This rate is significantly higher than the Medicare benchmark of $558.25, reflecting a markup common in commercial healthcare. While the facility is a Critical Access Hospital owned by the local government, patients with high-deductible plans might find the cash price more affordable than their insurance negotiated rate, which varies by payer from $1,382 to $2,353. It is important to note that commercial rates often include administrative overhead and contract dynamics that can inflate the baseline price compared to the federal cost basis.
To ensure you are not overcharged, always request a full itemized bill before paying, as summary bills can obscure individual code costs and potential errors. If you receive a balance bill from an out-of-network provider, even at an in-network facility, you may have protections under the No Surprises Act that prevent providers from charging you the difference between their chargemaster and your insurance allowed amount. Additionally, ask the hospital directly about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts, which can reduce the bill by 20% to 50% if paid upfront, bypassing the costly insurance claims cycle. Since over 80% of hospital bills contain errors, disputing any discrepancies in writing is the most effective way to reduce medical debt.