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Echocardiograms are expensive due to the cost of the echocardiography machine, technician fees, consultation and interpretation costs, and outpatient hospital fees. There are two types of echocardiograms, with a standard ultrasound being less expensive than a transesophageal echocardiogram. Insurance plans may cover some or all of the cost.
Many factors affect the cost of an echocardiogram, but technician fees, consultation and interpretation costs, and outpatient hospital fees are usually the most common. Any medications a patient needs, including anesthetics and intravenous medications, are also considered, as are any monitoring required after the procedure. In general, a standard echocardiogram costs less overall than a transesophageal echocardiogram, although neither is inexpensive.
Echocardiograms are medical tests that allow doctors to map the heart using ultrasound technology. The procedure, often known as a cardiac echo, is noninvasive and can usually be done in about an hour. However, the cost of an echocardiogram is quite high in most places. The technology required to perform the test, as well as the education and special skill required to interpret the results, are the main reasons why an echo costs as much as it costs.
To perform an echocardiogram, doctors must have access to an echocardiography machine. These machines are expensive and are usually only installed in regional hospitals. They are too expensive for most doctors to keep in their offices.
The first cost of an echocardiogram is, in most cases, the cost of a hospital visit. Even if a patient visits the hospital for only a few hours, a stiff fee usually applies. This fee represents the use of a hospital gown, attention from nurses, any medications administered, follow-up treatments, and access to the machine.
Specially trained technicians usually perform the echo. The cost of the echocardiogram also includes the costs of the technician, as well as the cost of printing any slides. There are two types of echocardiogram and the costs associated with each are slightly different.
In a standard ultrasound, technicians attach external probes to the patient’s test, then perform an ultrasound or sonogram of the chest cavity from the outside. With a transesophageal echocardiogram, the ultrasound receiver is placed on the end of an endoscope that is inserted down the patient’s throat. This procedure provides a more detailed picture of the heart, but is usually only used for patients with severe heart problems or for patients for whom a general ultrasound test has not been conclusive.
Regardless of which test was performed, technicians pass the echocardiogram results to cardiac specialists. Specialists typically charge an interpretation or consultation fee, which covers their expertise in both reading and interpreting the results. The cost of an echocardiogram tends to go up the more complex the problem or diagnosis. Typically, the patient will also be charged for any new scans or additional tests that may be needed.
In many cases, patients’ medical insurance plans will cover some, if not all, of the cost of an echocardiogram. Most plans have restrictions on which doctors are covered and which hospitals or clinics can provide services. Ultrasound patients hoping to bill their insurance companies for the cost of an echocardiogram would do well to study their plan materials carefully before receiving treatment.
