Shock wave lithotripsy cost in Pittsburgh, PA — inpatient
In Pittsburgh, PA, 4 hospitals list a cash price for shock-wave lithotripsy to break up kidney stones (from outside the body) as an inpatient: from $8,163.60 to $9,684.48, with a median of $8,609.70. The lowest listed price is at Highlands Hospital and 1 other hospital — $446.10 less than the median here. Across Pennsylvania, the median is $6,655.20 at 20 hospitals.
Cash prices at 4 facilities across 4 cities for code 50590, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 6, 2026 and Apr 14, 2026.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Pittsburgh, PA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlands Hospital one side lowest Connellsville, PA · (724) 628-1500 LITHOTRIPSY - UNILATERAL | $8,163.60 | $13,606.00 | — | 40% | — source file |
| Monogahela Valley Hospital one side lowest Monongahela, PA · (724) 258-1000 UNILATERAL LITHOTRIPSY | $8,163.60 | $13,606.00 | $6,122.70 | 40% | — source file |
| UPMC Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA · (412) 647-2345 LITHOTRIPSY | $9,055.80 | $15,093.00 | $9,810.45–$12,829.05 | 40% | Mar 6, 2026 source file |
| Canonsburg General Hospital Canonsburg, PA · (724) 745-6100 HC LITHOTRIPSY | $9,684.48 | $12,416.00 | $261.98–$1,100.71 | 22% | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $8,163.60, median $8,609.70, highest $9,684.48 — a 1.2× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 4 facilities here, median $8,609.70 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 1 of 3 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at 1 it is below every plan's rate. If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you usually pay your plan's negotiated rate, which falls somewhere in the "Insurers pay" column. Paying cash can cost less, but a cash payment usually does not count toward your deductible. Ask the hospital for both numbers before you book.
What it is
Shock-wave lithotripsy breaks kidney or ureter stones into small pieces with sound waves aimed from outside the body, so the pieces can pass in the urine. No cut is made, and it is usually done under sedation or anesthesia.
What the price covers
The listed price usually covers the lithotripsy treatment in the facility. The urologist, anesthesia, X-rays and any stent placement are often billed separately; some hospitals rent the machine from an outside company, which can change how the charge is listed.