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Starting Vein-To-Vein ECMO Life Support

Maryland rates for HCPCS 33946

Covers the physician work of setting up and starting an external machine that draws blood from a vein, adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide, then returns the blood to a vein. This form supports failing lungs while the patient's own heart continues to do the pumping. It covers getting the support running, not the day-to-day management afterwards.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Starting Vein-To-Vein ECMO Life Support cost?

$380

Typical physician fee. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $380 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $316 to $575.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $562 · 10th to 90th $302 to $1,380Professionalmedian $339 · 10th to 90th $282 to $631
$100$200$500$1K$2Kfacility $562professional $339

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$380.19
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$346.74
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$489.78
Median
$602.56
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$281.84
Median
$346.74
Typical High
$794.33
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$288.40
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$602.56
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$537.03
Typical High
$1,230.27
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$831.76
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$275.42
Median
$275.42
Typical High
$436.52
5 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$190.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$75.86
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$281.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$56.23
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$38.02
Typical High
$38.02

Where Maryland sits

The same service costs 4.0 times more in Wisconsin than in New York. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Maryland· 47th of 51

$380

WI $1,288NY $324

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.