Ultrasound Cost in Texarkana, TX

How much does a ultrasound cost without insurance in Texarkana?

Cash prices for ultrasound in Texarkana are consistent across all three CHRISTUS facilities. Pelvic ultrasound (76856) costs $524.04 at CHRISTUS Health Pine Street, CHRISTUS St Michael Atlanta, and CHRISTUS St Michael Texarkana. Abdominal ultrasound (76700) costs $554.73 at all three locations. The overall cash price range spans $524.04 to $554.73, with abdominal ultrasound costing $30.69 more than pelvic ultrasound due to the more extensive examination required. These facility fees cover hospital costs for equipment, room, and technical staff, but physician fees for the radiologist who interprets the images are billed separately by the medical practice.

Why is the gross charge so much higher than the cash price?

The gross charge represents the hospital's published list price before discounts, while the cash price reflects substantial discounts offered to uninsured patients. All three CHRISTUS facilities offer a 33% discount from their gross charges, reducing pelvic ultrasound from $1,588 to $524.04 and abdominal ultrasound from $1,681 to $554.73. The gross charge, also called the chargemaster price, functions as a starting point for negotiations with insurance companies. Very few patients actually pay the full gross charge amount. This pricing structure allows hospitals to offer significant discounts while maintaining published rates that serve as the basis for insurance contract negotiations and compliance with federal pricing transparency requirements.

Does insurance cover a ultrasound?

Insurance coverage for ultrasound procedures depends on the specific plan and medical necessity as determined by the treating physician. The wide variation in negotiated rates demonstrates how different insurance plans secure different pricing, with pelvic ultrasound rates ranging from $40 to $1,270.40 and abdominal ultrasound from $52.20 to $1,344.80 across various payers. Non-emergency ultrasound procedures may require prior authorization from the insurance company. Patients with high-deductible health plans who have not yet met their annual deductible will owe the negotiated rate their insurance company has secured, not the higher gross charge, even though they pay out-of-pocket until reaching their deductible amount.

Are there additional fees beyond the ultrasound facility charge?

The facility fees shown cover hospital costs for equipment, room, and technical staff who perform the ultrasound, but additional professional fees apply. A radiologist's fee for interpreting the ultrasound images and providing a written report to the ordering physician is billed separately by the radiology practice. If the ultrasound is performed in an emergency department setting, separate emergency room facility fees will apply beyond the imaging charges. The ordering physician who reviews the results typically incorporates this into a separate office visit charge rather than billing a standalone result review fee. These additional professional and facility fees are not included in the ultrasound procedure costs and will appear as separate line items on medical bills.