CPT 93306: Echo, complete w/Doppler
What this code means, what it should cost, and how to dispute an overcharge.
Fair Price Reference
What is CPT 93306?
A complete echocardiogram with Doppler and color flow imaging — ultrasound of the heart.
Typical setting: Cardiology office or imaging center.
What CPT 93306 should cost
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays approximately $443 for CPT 93306 under the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule. This is what the federal government has determined is a reasonable payment for this service.
Private insurance typically pays 1.2–1.8x Medicare rates ($532–$797). Hospital chargemaster prices for CPT 93306 often range from $700 to $2500 — a markup of 1.6x to 5.6x over Medicare.
Reality check: Medicare pays $443. Hospital-affiliated facilities often bill $1,500–$2,500.
Common overcharges on CPT 93306
Facility fee stacking is common. Outpatient echo at a hospital-owned imaging center can be 3–5x the Medicare rate; the same test at an independent cardiology office is typically $400–$800.
About Cardiology billing
Cardiology procedures are frequently overcharged through facility-fee stacking — where the same test at a hospital-owned imaging center costs 3–5x what it does at an independent cardiology practice.
Compare hospital charges against the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and FAIR Health's regional benchmarks. Request site-of-service transparency.
How to dispute a CPT 93306 overcharge
- Request the itemized bill. You are entitled to a detailed line-by-line bill showing every CPT code billed. Ask in writing.
- Compare to Medicare allowable. If the charge exceeds 150% of Medicare ($665), you have grounds to dispute.
- Request documentation. For E&M codes, ask for the visit note. For procedures, ask for the operative report. The documentation must justify the code billed.
- Send a formal dispute letter. Cite the specific discrepancy between the documentation and the code. Reference Medicare rates and NCCI edits where applicable.
- Follow up in writing. Give the provider 30 days to respond. If they don't, escalate to the state attorney general and insurance commissioner.
Got CPT 93306 on your bill?
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