Price Checker / CPT 93005
How much does EKG — tracing only cost?
CPT 93005 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 29x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$10–$20
What this should cost
With insurance
~$63,900
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$25
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $434 is $419 over the fair price (about 29x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for EKG — tracing only
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| JFK Memorial Hospital , CA | $1,467 | $1,100 | 20827% |
| Watsonville Community Hospital WATSONVILLE, CA | $1,428 | $857 | 20269% |
| Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital , AZ | $1,415 | $1,061 | 20085% |
| Abrazo Surprise Hospital , AZ | $1,415 | $1,061 | 20085% |
| Arroyo Grande Community Hospital , CA | $1,089 | $466 | 15435% |
| Jackson-Madison County General Hospital JACKSON, TN | — | $131 | 15335% |
| WTH Bolivar Hospital , TN | — | $131 | 15335% |
| WTH Camden Hospital , TN | — | $131 | 15335% |
| WTH Milan Hospital , TN | — | $131 | 15335% |
| Baptist Health Princeton Hospital , AL | $1,043 | $782 | 14779% |
| Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta MURRIETA, CA | $1,013 | $557 | 14351% |
| UCHealth Grandview Hospital COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $911 | $319 | 12896% |
| Adventhealth Avista LOUISVILLE, CO | $899 | $449 | 12720% |
| Adventhealth Parker PARKER, CO | $899 | $449 | 12720% |
| Adventhealth Porter DENVER, CO | $899 | $449 | 12720% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About EKG — tracing only
CPT code 93005 refers to ekg — tracing only (billing description: "Electrocardiogram tracing"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $7 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $7 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.