Sed rate (ESR) cost in Houston, TX
In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX, 40 hospitals list a cash price for sed rate (ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate): from $21.00 to $1,023.00, with a median of $51.04. The lowest listed price is at Liberty Dayton Regional Medical Center — $30.04 less than the median here. Across Texas, the median is $61.15 at 217 hospitals.
- The median here, $51.04, is 34% above the US median of $38.00.
- That is 18.9× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($2.70).
- Houston, TX has the lowest median of 3 metro areas in Texas with at least 10 hospitals pricing this code.
- 12 of 40 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 40 facilities across 17 cities for code 85652, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Nov 4, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 28, 2026 and Sep 17, 2026.
Lowest$21.00Liberty Dayton Regional Medical Center
Median$51.04half of hospitals charge less
Highest$1,023.00in this market
Difference48.7×highest vs lowest
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX.
median
Lowest $21.00Highest $1,023.00
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Dayton Regional Medical Center lowest Liberty, TX · (936) 336-7316 Sed Rate, Automated source file | $21.00 | $30.00 | $18.00–$29.00 | 30% |
| Liberty Dayton Regional Medical Center Liberty, TX · (936) 336-7316 Sed Rate By Modified Westergren Qst source file | $25.00 | $35.00 | $21.00–$33.00 | 29% |
| Voyages of Sugar Land South Sugar Land, TX RBC SED Rate Automated (ESR) File of Aug 6, 2026 · source file | $27.00 | $27.00 | $6.75–$20.25 | — |
| Texas Orthopedic Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 799-8600 Sedimentation rate, erythrocyte; automated +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $33.02 | $33.02 | $1.98–$29.72 | — |
| The Community Hospital of Brazosport Lake Jackson, TX · (979) 297-4411 WESTEGREN SED RATE File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $37.86 | $108.15 | $2.27–$86.96 | 65% |
| CHI St. Luke's Health Springwood Village Spring, TX · (936) 266-4050 HC LAB SEDIMENTATION RATE (SED) File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $48.30 | $138.00 | $1.94–$138.00 | 65% |
| St Luke's Lakeside Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 266-4055 HC LAB SEDIMENTATION RATE (SED) File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $48.30 | $138.00 | $1.94–$138.00 | 65% |
| St Luke's the Woodlands Hospital The Woodlands, TX · (936) 266-4050 HC LAB SEDIMENTATION RATE (SED) File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $48.30 | $138.00 | $1.94–$138.00 | 65% |
| CHI St. Luke's Health Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center Houston, TX · (832) 355-1000 HC LAB SEDIMENTATION RATE (SED) File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $48.30 | $138.00 | $1.94–$138.00 | 65% |
| St. Lukes Hospital at the Vintage Houston, TX · (832) 534-5000 HC LAB SEDIMENTATION RATE (SED) File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $48.30 | $138.00 | $1.94–$138.00 | 65% |
| St Luke's Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 637-7000 HC LAB SEDIMENTATION RATE (SED) File of Feb 28, 2026 · source file | $48.30 | $138.00 | $1.94–$138.00 | 65% |
| Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $48.80 | $152.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital Sugar Land, TX · (281) 725-5000 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $48.80 | $152.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Medical Center The Woodlands, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $48.80 | $152.50 | — | 68% |
| Tirr Memorial Hermann Houston, TX HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $48.80 | $152.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Pearland Hospital Pearland, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $48.80 | $152.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center Houston, TX · (713) 242-3000 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $48.80 | $152.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital Katy, TX · (281) 392-1111 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $48.80 | $152.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital Humble, TX · (281) 540-7700 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $48.80 | $152.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $48.80 | $152.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital Houston, TX · (713) 448-6796 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $48.80 | $152.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Texas Medical Center) Houston, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $53.28 | $166.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital Cypress, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $53.28 | $166.50 | — | 68% |
| Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital Houston, TX HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $53.28 | $166.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center Houston, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $53.28 | $166.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Cypress) Cypress, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $53.28 | $166.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Upper Kirby) Houston, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $53.28 | $166.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Imaging Center (Bellaire) Bellaire, TX · (713) 704-3700 HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $53.28 | $166.50 | — | 68% |
| Memorial Hermann Rockets Orthopedic Hospital Bellaire, TX HC RBC SED RATE, AUTO - SEDIMENTATION RATE, AUTOMATED File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $53.28 | $166.50 | — | 68% |
| Elite Hospital Kingwood Kingwood, TX · (832) 777-6165 Sedimentation rate erythrocyte; automated File of Sep 17, 2026 · source file | $61.20 | $122.40 | $91.80 | 50% |
| Texas Children's Hospital Houston, TX · (832) 824-1000 TC SEDIMENTATION RATE AUTOMATED+2 more lines at this price File of Mar 5, 2026 · source file | $76.38 | $114.00 | $2.70–$108.30 | 33% |
| Cornerstone Hospital Conroe Conroe, TX SED RATE (AUTO) File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $217.00 | $217.00 | — | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball Houston, TX · (281) 351-7500 SED RATE AUTO+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $239.47 | $239.47 | $2.32–$203.55 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare West Houston, TX · (281) 588-8080 SED RATE AUTO File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $414.00 | $414.00 | $24.84–$372.60 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Pearland Houston, TX · (713) 770-7000 Sedimentation rate, erythrocyte; automated +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $620.00 | $620.00 | $2.32–$527.00 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Conroe Conroe, TX · (936) 539-1111 Sedimentation rate, erythrocyte; automated +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $654.06 | $654.06 | $2.32–$588.65 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress Houston, TX · (281) 359-7500 Sedimentation rate, erythrocyte; automated +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $669.75 | $669.75 | $11.17–$569.29 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood Humble, TX · (281) 359-7500 SED RATE AUTO+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $669.75 | $669.75 | $2.32–$234.41 | — |
| HCA Houston Mainland Texas City, TX · (281) 332-2511 SED RATE AUTO+1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $714.45 | $714.45 | $2.32–$643.01 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Clear Lake Alvin, TX · (281) 332-2511 Sedimentation rate, erythrocyte; automated +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $714.45 | $714.45 | $2.32–$643.01 | — |
| HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast Pasadena, TX · (713) 359-1000 Sedimentation rate, erythrocyte; automated +1 more line at this price File of Sep 1, 2026 · source file | $1,023.00 | $1,023.00 | $11.17–$920.70 | — |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
Insurers pay The lowest and highest rates this hospital has agreed with insurance plans for the same item, from its price file. If the cash price is below what your plan pays and you have not met your deductible, paying cash can cost you less. More
Off list How much lower the cash price is than the list price.
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
Outpatient: lowest $21.00, median $51.04, highest $1,023.00 — a 48.7× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 29 facilities here, median $48.80. Inpatient and outpatient prices are not comparable and are kept on separate pages: the inpatient charge covers admission, not the same purchase.
Cash or insurance?
At 10 of 21 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 sed rate (ESR) is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Sed rate (ESR) explained.
1 row held back from this comparison
It is priced below $1 or below a tenth of the national median for code 85652 ($36.80). Such a line is almost always a physician's fee billed separately, an assistant's share or a placeholder — a real charge, but not the price of the procedure itself.
| Hospital | Cash price | File |
|---|---|---|
| Hsa St. Joseph Houston, TXAUTOM ERYTHROCYTE SED RATE | $2.65 | file |
File Link to the hospital's own price file.