Rheumatoid factor test cost in Carlsbad, NM — inpatient
In Carlsbad-Artesia, NM, 2 hospitals list a cash price for rheumatoid factor (RF) test as an inpatient: from $4.83 to $149.40, with a median of $77.12. The lowest listed price is at Carlsbad Medical Center — $72.29 less than the median here. Across New Mexico, the median is $61.72 at 9 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 facilities across 2 cities for code 86431, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 20, 2026 and Apr 1, 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 Carlsbad-Artesia, NM.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlsbad Medical Center lowest Carlsbad, NM · (575) 887-4570 Q37491 RHEUMATOID FA | $4.83 | $24.15 | $4.83–$22.46 | 80% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Carlsbad Medical Center Carlsbad, NM · (575) 887-4570 RHEUMATOID FACT QUAN | $6.20 | $31.00 | $6.20–$28.83 | 80% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Artesia General Hospital Artesia, NM · (575) 748-3333 rheumatoid factor quant REF 006502 | $149.40 | $249.00 | $8.71–$236.55 | 40% | Feb 20, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $4.83, median $77.12, highest $149.40 — a 30.9× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 1 facility here, median $149.40 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 2 of 2 hospitals that publish insurer rates for this code here, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated, and at none is it 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
Rheumatoid factor is an antibody found in many people with rheumatoid arthritis. The test is part of the workup for joint pain and swelling.
What the price covers
The price usually covers running the test. The blood draw (36415) is often billed as a separate line.