Biopsy pathology exam cost in San Francisco, CA
In San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, 26 hospitals list a cash price for biopsy tissue exam by a pathologist (level IV): from $21.79 to $341.20, with a median of $148.01. The lowest listed price is at Sequoia Hospital — $126.22 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $130.00 at 208 hospitals.
- The median here, $148.01, is 13% below the US median of $171.00.
- That is 2.8× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($53.24).
- San Francisco, CA ranks 5th of 5 metro areas in California by median, cheapest first.
- 12 of 26 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Cash prices at 26 facilities across 18 cities for code 88305, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Oct 31, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Feb 23, 2026 and Sep 30, 2026.
Lowest$21.79Sequoia Hospital
Median$148.01half of hospitals charge less
Highest$341.20in this market
Difference15.7×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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA.
median
Lowest $21.79Highest $341.20
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sequoia Hospital lowest Redwood City, CA · (650) 369-5811 RL-PP-TISS EXAM LVL IV File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $21.79 | $63.86 | $27.46–$199.89 | 66% |
| Sequoia Hospital Redwood City, CA · (650) 369-5811 RL-SU-LVL IV -SURG PATH File of Sep 30, 2026 · source file | $58.34 | $171.00 | $58.80–$236.82 | 66% |
| Novato Community Hospital Novato, CA · (415) 209-1300 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $78.00 | $78.00 | — | — |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CA · (510) 782-6200 GRP4SUBMITTEDSURGPATH+3 more lines at this price File of Feb 23, 2026 · source file | $120.33 | $401.10 | $38.28–$340.94 | 70% |
| MarinHealth Medical Center Greenbrae, CA · (415) 925-7900 PATHOLOGY EXAMINATION OF TISSUE USING A MICROSCOPE; INTERMEDIATE COMPLEXITY File of Mar 26, 2026 · source file | $122.40 | $204.00 | $20.04–$2,330.00 | 40% |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Herrick Campus Berkeley, CA · (510) 204-4444 HCHG REF CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $130.00 | $130.00 | — | — |
| California Pacific Medical Ctr-Davies Campus Hospital San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG REF CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $130.00 | $130.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Oakland, CA · (510) 655-4000 HCHG REF CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $130.00 | $130.00 | — | — |
| Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Burlingame, CA · (650) 696-5400 HCHG REF CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $130.00 | $130.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp Berkeley, CA · (510) 204-4444 HCHG REF CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $130.00 | $130.00 | — | — |
| California Pacific Medical Center- Van Ness Campus San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG REF CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $130.00 | $130.00 | — | — |
| Sutter Delta Medical Center Antioch, CA · (925) 779-7200 HCHG REF CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $130.00 | $130.00 | — | — |
| Mills Health Center San Mateo, CA · (650) 696-5400 HCHG REF CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $130.00 | $130.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Summit Campus-Hawthorne Oakland, CA · (510) 655-4000 HCHG REF CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $130.00 | $130.00 | — | — |
| Mills-Peninsula Medical Center Burlingame, CA · (650) 696-5400 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $153.43 | $153.43 | — | — |
| Mills Health Center San Mateo, CA · (650) 696-5400 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $153.43 | $153.43 | — | — |
| Sutter Delta Medical Center Antioch, CA · (925) 779-7200 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $166.00 | $166.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp Berkeley, CA · (510) 204-4444 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $166.02 | $166.02 | — | — |
| Eden Medical Center Castro Valley, CA · (510) 537-1234 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $166.02 | $166.02 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Summit Campus-Hawthorne Oakland, CA · (510) 655-4000 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $166.02 | $166.02 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Herrick Campus Berkeley, CA · (510) 204-4444 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $166.02 | $166.02 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Oakland, CA · (510) 655-4000 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $166.02 | $166.02 | — | — |
| MarinHealth Medical Center Greenbrae, CA · (415) 925-7900 TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST File of Mar 26, 2026 · source file | $179.52 | $299.20 | $20.04–$2,330.00 | 40% |
| California Pacific Medical Ctr-Davies Campus Hospital San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.00 | $187.00 | — | — |
| California Pacific Medical Center- Van Ness Campus San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG REF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $187.00 | $187.00 | — | — |
| Kaiser Fnd Hospital - Richmond Campus Richmond, CA · (510) 752-1000 LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $229.60 | $410.00 | $57.00–$180.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Redwood City Redwood City, CA · (650) 299-2000 LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $229.60 | $410.00 | $57.00–$180.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Walnut Creek Walnut Creek, CA · (925) 295-4000 LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $229.60 | $410.00 | $57.00–$180.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - South San Francisco South San Francisco, CA · (650) 742-3200 LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $229.60 | $410.00 | $57.00–$180.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Antioch Antioch, CA · (925) 813-6500 LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $229.60 | $410.00 | $57.00–$180.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Fremont Fremont, CA · (510) 784-4000 LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $229.60 | $410.00 | $57.00–$180.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Rafael San Rafael, CA · (415) 444-2000 LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $229.60 | $410.00 | $57.00–$180.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Oakland/Richmond Oakland, CA · (510) 752-1000 LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $229.60 | $410.00 | $57.00–$180.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Leandro San Leandro, CA · (510) 454-1000 LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $229.60 | $410.00 | $57.00–$180.00 | 44% |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Francisco San Francisco, CA · (415) 833-2646 LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $229.60 | $410.00 | $57.00–$180.00 | 44% |
| Novato Community Hospital Novato, CA · (415) 209-1300 HCHG SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV+2 more lines at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $280.00 | $280.00 | — | — |
| Eden Medical Center Castro Valley, CA · (510) 537-1234 HCHG CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $280.00 | $280.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center Oakland, CA · (510) 655-4000 HCHG CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $280.00 | $280.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Alta Bates Camp Berkeley, CA · (510) 204-4444 HCHG CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $280.00 | $280.00 | — | — |
| Sutter Delta Medical Center Antioch, CA · (925) 779-7200 HCHG CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $280.00 | $280.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Summit Campus-Hawthorne Oakland, CA · (510) 655-4000 HCHG CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $280.00 | $280.00 | — | — |
| Alta Bates Summit Medical Center - Herrick Campus Berkeley, CA · (510) 204-4444 HCHG CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $280.00 | $280.00 | — | — |
| California Pacific Medical Ctr-Davies Campus Hospital San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $293.00 | $293.00 | — | — |
| California Pacific Medical Center- Van Ness Campus San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG CYTO CL BLK 5 CNT/1 KARY File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $293.00 | $293.00 | — | — |
| St. Rose Hospital Hayward, CA · (510) 782-6200 CS Kidney Biopsy File of Feb 23, 2026 · source file | $315.00 | $1,050.00 | $38.28–$892.50 | 70% |
| Chinese Hospital San Francisco, CA · (415) 677-2480 Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity File of Jul 22, 2026 · source file | $336.00 | $336.00 | $58.80–$604.80 | — |
| California Pacific Medical Center- Van Ness Campus San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $337.00 | $337.00 | — | — |
| California Pacific Medical Ctr-Davies Campus Hospital San Francisco, CA · (415) 600-6000 HCHG SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $337.00 | $337.00 | — | — |
| Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley Pleasanton, CA · (925) 847-3000 Cyto Cell Block-Lv4+1 more line at this price File of Apr 1, 2026 · source file | $341.20 | $853.00 | — | 60% |
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.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
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 $21.79, median $148.01, highest $341.20 — a 15.7× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 24 facilities here, median $148.01. 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 4 of 14 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 biopsy pathology exam is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Biopsy pathology exam explained.