Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Facility: Amberwell Atchison Association
Billing Code: 93306 (CPT)
- CPT Billing Code: 93306
- Insurance Median: $1,540
- Cash Discount Price: $3,011
- vs. Medicare Baseline: 2.76x 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 276% of the Medicare baseline (a markup of 176%). 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Select Mcr Adv - All Plans | $994 | 178% |
| Humana | $994 - $1,355 | 178% |
| Triwest - All Plans | $994 | 178% |
| Va Ccn - All Plans | $994 | 178% |
| UnitedHealthcare | $994 - $5,402 | 178% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | $1,456 - $1,532 | 261% |
| Ambetter / Centene | $1,540 | 276% |
| Aetna | $1,656 | 297% |
| Cigna | $1,656 | 297% |
| Centrus Health Direct - All Plans | $2,258 | 404% |
| Oscar - All Plans | $2,258 | 404% |
| Multiplan - All Plans | $2,349 | 421% |
| Wppa Providrs Care - All Plans | $2,710 | 485% |
Consumer Guidance & Cost Commentary
For the Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) procedure at Amberwell Atchison Association, the cash price is $3,011.00, which matches the facility's cash median. While commercial insurance plans typically negotiate lower rates, the data shows that some in-network payers, such as Superior Select Mcr Adv and Triwest, have negotiated rates as low as $994, whereas others like UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield have negotiated ranges extending up to $2,710. It is important to note that cash payment can sometimes be more cost-effective for patients with high-deductible plans if the insurance negotiated rate exceeds the cash price. Additionally, patients should explicitly ask the hospital about "self-pay" or "prompt-pay" discounts before scheduling, as these upfront fee reductions can significantly lower the final amount owed.
The facility's pricing is benchmarked against Medicare, which sets a baseline rate of $558.25 for this service. The cash price of $3,011.00 represents a markup of 2.8 times the Medicare amount, illustrating the difference between the federal cost baseline and commercial pricing. While the data does not provide specific state or county average comparisons for this exact procedure, the significant variance between the lowest negotiated rate ($994) and the highest ($2,710) highlights the importance of verifying your specific plan's allowed amount. To avoid unexpected costs, patients should request an itemized bill to ensure no errors exist, as over 80% of hospital bills contain discrepancies, and should be aware that federal protections under the No Surprises Act may prevent balance billing for out-of-network services at in-network facilities.