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Cash prices Maryland Outpatient

ER visit cost in Maryland without insurance

In Maryland, the median cash price for Level 3 ER visit is $273.29 across 15 hospitals, from $236.28 to $1,050.43. The lowest is at MedStar Harbor Hospital (Baltimore). The US median is $644.80.

Why Maryland prices look low: Maryland is the only state where a commission (the HSCRC) sets hospital rates for every payer, so its hospitals publish prices far below the rest of the country. A separate physician fee may still apply.

Maryland law (Health-General §19-214.1) requires hospitals to give free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and to cut the bill by 75% up to 250% and 60% up to 300%. With medical debt above 25% of family income in a year, discounts reach up to 500%. Immigration status does not count. Ask the hospital for its financial assistance application. Other states' laws.

The ER visit price is the hospital's facility fee for one emergency department visit, set by one of five levels (99281–99285) that reflect how complex the care was. The emergency physician bills separately, and lab tests, imaging, medicines and procedures are added on top. In an emergency, go to the nearest ER or call 911: under the federal EMTALA law, hospital emergency departments must screen and stabilize anyone regardless of ability to pay.

Collected Oct 29, 2026 One price per hospital: its lowest outpatient cash price for the code

ER visit prices in Maryland by type

The level is assigned after the visit based on how complex the evaluation and treatment were, so it cannot be chosen in advance. Level 3 (99283) is a common middle level and is used in the state table; a minor problem is usually level 1 or 2, and a serious illness that leads to admission is usually level 5.

ProcedureHospitalsRangeMedianUS median
Level 1 ER visit Emergency room visit, level 1 of 5, minor problem that may not need a doctor · code 99281 15 $97.80–$362.74 $132.02 $222.64
Level 2 ER visit Emergency room visit, level 2 of 5, straightforward problem · code 99282 15 $118.14–$629.70 $132.02 $389.00
Level 3 ER visit Emergency room visit, level 3 of 5, low-complexity problem · code 99283 15 $236.28–$1,050.43 $273.29 $644.80
Level 4 ER visit Emergency room visit, level 4 of 5, moderate-complexity problem · code 99284 15 $132.02–$1,781.45 $525.39 $1,041.86
Level 5 ER visit Emergency room visit, level 5 of 5, high-complexity problem · code 99285 15 $132.02–$2,610.33 $956.52 $1,528.39
Procedure The service and its billing code (CPT or HCPCS). Opens the comparison of every hospital that prices it. More
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Middle 80% Cash prices of most hospitals: a tenth of hospitals charge less than the first number (P10), a tenth charge more than the second (P90). More
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
US median The median cash price across all US hospitals that publish one for this code.

Outpatient cash prices in Maryland. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest cash price for the code; prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Pick a procedure to compare every hospital in the state.

Lowest Level 3 ER visit prices in Maryland

ER visit cost in other states

Paying cash: what to do

  • Ask for an itemized bill with CPT codes, and check the visit level against the prices on this page.
  • Ask for the hospital's financial assistance application; nonprofit hospitals must have a written policy and cannot charge eligible patients more than they generally bill insured patients.
  • The emergency physician group sends its own bill, so ask it separately for a self-pay discount and a payment plan.