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Starting Vein-To-Vein ECMO Life Support

New York 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?

$3,471

Typical total for the visit. In New York, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,471 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $309 to the doctor who performs it, and $3,162 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 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$309$263 to $389
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$3,162$1,380 to $5,012

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3,162 · 10th to 90th $646 to $7,586Professionalmedian $309 · 10th to 90th $245 to $603
$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $3,162professional $309

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
$1,621.81
Median
$6,165.95
Typical High
$10,964.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$812.83
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,288.25
Median
$3,890.45
Typical High
$7,943.28
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$245.47
Median
$295.12
Typical High
$549.54
CDPHP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$436.52
Median
$436.52
Typical High
$436.52
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$794.33
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$2,754.23
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$1,023.29
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$302.00
Median
$407.38
Typical High
$1,148.15
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$309.03
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$616.60
Excellus BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$263.03
Typical High
$436.52
MVP Health Care
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$389.05
Median
$3,235.94
Typical High
$4,365.16
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$426.58
Median
$426.58
Typical High
$794.33
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$575.44
Median
$1,778.28
Typical High
$6,309.57
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$234.42
Median
$354.81
Typical High
$912.01
Univera
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$562.34
Univera
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$263.03
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
$169.82
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$204.17
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$83.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$251.19
Median
$251.19
Typical High
$309.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$51.29
Typical High
$61.66
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$33.88
Median
$33.88
Typical High
$40.74

Where New York 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

New York· 6th of 51

$3,471

$309 physician + $3,162 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.