CPT 93000: electrocardiogram (ECG), complete with interpretation. What Medicare pays and what to ask
The complete ECG code includes the tracing and the reading. Here is what 93000 covers and the Medicare rate.
What this code means
CPT 93000 is a routine ECG with at least 12 leads, including the tracing, the interpretation and the written report.
When the tracing (93005) and the interpretation (93010) are billed separately, they take the place of this code.
Why the bill can be much higher than the Medicare rate
Seeing 93000 together with 93005 or 93010 for the same test is worth a question, because they overlap.
A complete ECG is a small charge, but it often appears with ER visits, so repeats stand out.
| If a line is billed at | It would be |
|---|---|
| 5x the Medicare rate | $76.80 |
| 10x the Medicare rate | $153.60 |
| 20x the Medicare rate | $307.20 |
The Medicare rate is a published benchmark, not a legal ceiling on what a provider may charge. Our free scan flags a line as worth a closer look when it is billed at more than 10 times the Medicare rate.
Questions worth asking before you pay
- Was the ECG done once, and billed once?
- Are the tracing and the interpretation also billed separately?
- Who read the ECG and who billed the reading?
Check every line against the official Medicare rates in about a minute. The scan is free.
Related codes
Source: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (CMS, July 2026 release), national payment amount, non-facility setting. Last updated October 2026. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rates change each year and a hospital bill can include charges that the benchmark does not cover.