Pelvic Ultrasound Cost

Typical costs:

• A pelvic ultrasound typically is covered by health insurance when ordered by a doctor for diagnosis of a problem. For patients covered by health insurance, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a copay of $10-$50 or more, or coinsurance of 10%-50% or more.
• For patients not covered by health insurance, the cost of a pelvic ultrasound typically varies by provider and geographic region. The typical cost range is $250-$1,100, with a national average cost of $525, according to NewChoiceHealth.com^[1] . For example, Concierge Medicine^[2] in California charges $275 for a pelvic ultrasound. Baptist Memorial Health Care in Tennessee charges $395 for a transvaginal ultrasound. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center^[3] , in New Hampshire, charges $561 for a non-obstetric pelvic ultrasound, and $710 for an obstetric ultrasound, including the doctor fee, after an uninsured discount of 30%. And Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center^[4] in Nebraska, charges $240-$620 for a non-obstetric pelvic ultrasound, $484 for a transrectal ultrasound and $580 for a transvaginal ultrasound, not including the radiologist fee. For obstetric transabdominal ultrasounds, they charge $569-$1,099.

• The patient lies down on a table. Then, for a transvaginal or transrectal pelvic ultrasound, the provider inserts a latex-covered, lubricated probe into the vagina or rectum. For a transabdominal ultrasound, the provider applies a clear gel, then moves a hand-held device called a transducer over the lower abdomen. The transducer emits sound waves to create a picture of the organs on a screen. The procedure typically takes a half hour to an hour, and a radiologist later interprets the results.
• In a female patient, a pelvic ultrasound can be used to help diagnose problems such as cysts, fibroid tumors or ectopic pregnancy, or to look for the cause of problems such as pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding and infertility. Or, in pregnant women, it can be used to check fetal growth, look at the placenta, assess the risk of miscarriage and look for signs of early labor. In a male patient, it can be used to look at the prostate or bladder; it is sometimes used for diagnosis or staging for prostate or rectal cancer.
• RadiologyInfo.org offers an overview of pelvic ultrasound^[5] .

• In some cases, a tissue sample is taken for biopsy during a transvaginal or a transrectal ultrasound. A biopsy could add hundreds or thousands of dollars to the final cost, depending on the type of biopsy and the number of samples taken.

• Some clinics offer ultrasound services. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a locator^[6] for clinics that provide discounts on an income-based sliding scale.
• Many hospitals and imaging centers give discounts of up to 30% or more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. For example, Washington Hospital Healthcare System^[7] in California offers a 35% discount. And Raleigh Radiology in North Carolina offers a 40% discount for payment made in full at the time of service.

• A family doctor or specialist can make a referral to a hospital or imaging center. Or, the American College of Radiology offers a locator by zip code^[8] for facilities that are ACR-accredited in ultrasound procedures.
• A transvaginal ultrasound offers a closer look at the reproductive organs, but a transabdominal ultrasound offers a view of a larger area. In some cases, a doctor might order both types of ultrasounds to get a more complete view. The hospital or imaging center typically will have a radiologist to interpret X-rays. WebMD Women's Health^[9] offers a comparison between a transvaginal and a transabdominal pelvic ultrasound.
• The radiologist should be board-certified by the American Board of Radiology.

1.  www.newchoicehealth.com/Directory/Procedure/60/Pelvic%20Ultrasound
2.  www.conciergemedicinela.com/price-list-test/
3.  patients.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/billing_questions/out_of_pocket_estimator_dhmc.html
4.  tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
5.  www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=pelvus#part_two
6.  findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
7.  www.whhs.com/about/washington-hospital-discount-policy-for-uninsured/
8.  www.acr.org/Quality-Safety/Accreditation/Accredited-Facility-Search
9.  women.webmd.com/pelvic-ultrasound

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