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Starting Vein-To-Vein ECMO Life Support

Michigan 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?

$1,601

Typical total for the visit. In Michigan, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $1,601 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $427 to the doctor who performs it, and $1,175 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

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.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$427$355 to $457
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$1,175$977 to $1,995

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $1,175 · 10th to 90th $490 to $3,802Professionalmedian $427 · 10th to 90th $269 to $513
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5Kfacility $1,175professional $427

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
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$6,918.31
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$354.81
Median
$457.09
Typical High
$478.63
BCBS Michigan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,148.15
Median
$1,479.11
Typical High
$3,630.78
BCBS Michigan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$457.09
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$501.19
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$891.25
Typical High
$4,897.79
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$467.74
Priority Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$223.87
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$501.19
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$549.54
Typical High
$3,311.31
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$478.63
Typical High
$588.84
10 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
$218.78
Typical High
$229.09
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$91.20
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$257.04
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$338.84
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$52.48
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$67.61
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$34.67
Median
$43.65
Typical High
$45.71
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$213.80
Typical High
$213.80
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$85.11
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$316.23
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$64.57
Health Alliance Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$40.74
Median
$42.66
Typical High
$42.66

Where Michigan sits

The same service costs 6.1 times more in Alaska than in Maryland. 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.

Physician feeFacility fee

Michigan· 26th of 51

$1,601

$427 physician + $1,175 facility

AK $5,496MD $901

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.