Summary & Overview
CPT 93306: Transthoracic Echocardiography with Real-Time Imaging
CPT code 93306 is a widely utilized billing code for transthoracic echocardiography, a non-invasive imaging procedure that provides real-time, two-dimensional visualization of the heart. This code is central to cardiovascular diagnostics, enabling clinicians to assess cardiac anatomy and function for a variety of conditions. The procedure is commonly performed in office settings and is a cornerstone in the management of patients with suspected or known heart disease.
Major national payers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, Medicare, and UnitedHealthcare, provide coverage for services billed under CPT code 93306. The publication offers a comprehensive overview of payer policies, clinical indications, and billing practices associated with this code. Readers will gain insights into current benchmarks, relevant policy updates, and the clinical context for echocardiography procedures. The summary also highlights common modifiers, associated provider taxonomies, and typical ICD-10 diagnoses linked to this service, equipping stakeholders with essential information for compliance and operational planning.
This article serves as a resource for understanding the national landscape of CPT code 93306, including payer coverage, clinical applications, and billing considerations.
CPT Code Overview
CPT code 93306 represents a comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography procedure performed in real-time with image documentation (2D), including M-mode recording when performed. This service falls under Cardiovascular Procedures – Echocardiography and is typically provided in an office setting (POS 11). The procedure is essential for evaluating cardiac structure and function, supporting clinical decision-making in a wide range of cardiovascular conditions.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient presents to the office (Place of Service 11) for evaluation of cardiac function due to a history of chemotherapy, ongoing therapeutic drug monitoring, or follow-up after treatment for a malignant neoplasm. The patient may also have a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of cardiac involvement in infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, diphtheritic cardiomyopathy, meningococcal pericarditis, or sepsis due to streptococcus. The provider orders a transthoracic echocardiogram (93306) to assess heart structure and function, utilizing real-time 2D imaging and M-mode recording. The procedure is performed by a cardiovascular disease physician, interventional cardiologist, internal medicine physician, radiologist, or allergy & immunology physician, depending on the clinical scenario. Image documentation is included as part of the workflow, and the results are used to guide further management or monitor disease progression.
Coding Specifications
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Modifiers:
26– Professional Component: Used when only the interpretation and report of the echocardiogram are performed.TC– Technical Component: Used when only the technical portion (equipment, technician, etc.) is provided.59– Distinct Procedural Service: Used when the echocardiogram is performed as a distinct service from other procedures on the same day.76– Repeat Procedure by Same Physician: Used when the same physician repeats the echocardiogram on the same patient.
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Provider Taxonomies:
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty |
|---|---|
207RC0000X | Cardiovascular Disease Physician |
207RI0011X | Interventional Cardiology Physician |
207R00000X | Internal Medicine Physician |
207RR0000X | Radiology Physician |
207QA0000X | Allergy & Immunology Physician |
Related Diagnoses
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Z01.818– Encounter for pre‑chemotherapy examination- Relevant for patients requiring cardiac assessment prior to starting chemotherapy.
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Z51.81– Encounter for therapeutic drug monitoring- Used when monitoring cardiac function during ongoing drug therapy.
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Z08– Encounter for follow‑up examination after completed treatment for malignant neoplasm- Indicates cardiac evaluation after cancer treatment.
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A18.84– Tuberculosis of heart- Echocardiography is used to assess cardiac involvement in tuberculosis.
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A36.81– Diphtheritic cardiomyopathy- Cardiac imaging is necessary to evaluate myocardial damage from diphtheria.
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A39.53– Meningococcal pericarditis- Used to assess pericardial involvement in meningococcal infection.
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A40.0– Sepsis due to streptococcus, group A- Cardiac function may be compromised in sepsis; echocardiography helps evaluate this.
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A40.1– Sepsis due to streptococcus, group B- Similar to above, used for cardiac assessment in sepsis due to group B streptococcus.
Related CPT Codes
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93320– Doppler echo exam of the heart- Used to assess blood flow and velocity within the heart. Often performed in conjunction with
93306to provide additional hemodynamic information.
- Used to assess blood flow and velocity within the heart. Often performed in conjunction with
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93351– Stress echocardiography, transthoracic, with or without imaging- Used to evaluate cardiac function under stress conditions. May be used as an alternative or follow-up to
93306when assessing for ischemia or exercise-induced changes.
- Used to evaluate cardiac function under stress conditions. May be used as an alternative or follow-up to
Both 93320 and 93351 are commonly used alongside or as alternatives to 93306 depending on the clinical indication and workflow.
National Reimbursement Benchmarks
Nationally, the mean rate for CPT code 93306 is highest among commercial payers, with Cigna and UnitedHealth Group both exceeding $240.00. The BUCA average commercial mean rate stands at $205.56, which is notably higher than the Medicare mean rate of $136.48. This highlights a substantial gap between commercial and government reimbursement levels for this service.
Rate dispersion varies across payers. Medicare shows the widest spread, with a difference of $119.00 between its 75th and 25th percentiles, indicating significant variability in payment rates. In contrast, Aetna has the tightest range at $70.95, suggesting more consistent reimbursement levels. Cigna and UnitedHealth Group also display wide ranges, reflecting greater variability in commercial payments.
The table and chart below present a detailed breakdown of national mean rates and percentile values for each payer.
Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.