3-D and 4-D Ultrasounds Cost

Typical costs:

• 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds typically are not covered by health insurance, even when performed for medical reasons. For example, Aetna[2] considers 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds experimental and investigational due to lack of evidence that they alter management or improve clinical outcomes over standard ultrasounds.
• A 3-D and 4-D ultrasound typically costs from less than $50 to $250 or more, depending on the provider, length of session or number of sessions and extras provided. For example, A Baby Visit[3] in California offers packages ranging from $37 for a "Preview Package" with a five-minute ultrasound session to $289 for a "Baby Grandparents Package" that includes a 30-minute session with four copies of each DVD and CD of images, multiple sizes of photos, a photo album and a teddy bear with the baby's heartbeat. Stork Vision[4] , in Wisconsin, charges $130 for a 30-minute session and $165 for a 60-minute session and $225 for two sessions at different gestational ages; all packages include a DVD of the session, a CD with all images and black-and-white and color photos. Accuscan Health Imaging[5] in Utah charges $200 for a 15-to-20-minute session with a DVD, a CD of images, photos and an expectant mother gift bag.

• The technologist asks the patient to lie down, rubs a clear gel onto the abdomen, then uses a hand-held device called a transducer that emits sound waves that are sent from multiple angles. A complex computer program then is used to turn the sound waves into 3-D still images of the fetus or 4-D video of the fetus. (Time is considered the fourth dimension in a 4-D ultrasound.)
• Parents-to-be often seek 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds for sentimental reasons. However, 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds also are sometimes used by doctors in high-risk pregnancies to help detect fetal abnormalities in the face and limbs and to check function of a specific fetal organ, especially the heart. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Radiology Department[6] offers information on the use of these ultrasounds for medical purposes.

• Many providers of "keepsake ultrasounds" offer additional items or services at an added cost. For example, A Baby Visit in California offers a la carte options[7] including an additional CD for $10 and a memory book for as much as $25.

• Some providers offer online specials or coupons for 3-D and 4-D ultrasound services. For example, Accuscan Health Imaging in Utah offers a special for the "Angel Baby Package[8] ," which includes 3-D color photos and a 4-D video, for $149 instead of $200. A Baby Visit[9] in California offers a 5% discount to members of the military, teachers, police and firefighters.

• The American College of Radiology offers a locator by zip code[10] for facilities that are ACR-accredited in ultrasound procedures. It is important to make sure the facility uses trained ultrasound technologists certified by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS)[11] , an independent non-profit organization that sets professional standards in sonography. ARDMS has a tool[12] to verify the status of a provider.
• The FDA, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine[13] all recommend against getting an ultrasound for non-medical purposes, due to safety concerns about excessive and unnecessary exposure of the fetus to ultrasounds. Proponents argue that 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds can improve bonding between the mother and unborn baby, and might encourage healthier habits during pregnancy.An expert at BabyZone.com[14] recommends that patients consult with their own health care providers on this issue.
• For a pregnant woman who does choose to get one, an elective 3-D and 4-D ultrasound is not intended to, and should not, replace a routine ultrasound ordered as part of standard prenatal care. Ultrasounds -- also called sonograms -- typically in 2-D, are often performed at 20 weeks to monitor fetal development and check for problems. A pregnant woman should be under the care of an obstetrician/gynecologist or other qualified prenatal care provider. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists[15] offers a doctor finder by state; make sure the doctor is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology[16] .

1.  www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm095508.htm
2.  www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/100_199/0199.html
3.  www.ababyvisit.com/sandiegopricing.html
4.  www.storkvision.com/ultrasound/madison-wi-ultrasound-pricing.html
5.  www.saltlakeultrasound.com/Pricing.html
6.  www.uphs.upenn.edu/radiology/patient/services/ai/us.html
7.  www.ababyvisit.com/sandiegopricing.html
8.  www.saltlakeultrasound.com/Pricing.html
9.  www.ababyvisit.com/sandiegopricing.html
10.  www.acr.org/Quality-Safety/Accreditation/Accredited-Facility-Search
11.  www.ardms.org/about_ardms
12.  www.ardms.org/registrant_resources/id_cards_status_verification1/status_verification
13.  www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/04p0329/04p-0329-ts00002-02-Intro.pdf
14.  www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/prenatal-care/3d-ultrasounds_76942
15.  www.acog.org/About_ACOG/Find_an_Ob-Gyn
16.  www.abog.org/

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