Psychiatric evaluation cost in San Diego, CA — inpatient
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 9 hospitals list a cash price for mental health diagnostic evaluation (intake), without medical services as an inpatient: from $136.88 to $750.00, with a median of $383.35. The lowest listed price is at Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego — $246.47 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $348.14 at 67 hospitals.
Cash prices at 9 facilities across 5 cities for code 90791, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego lowest San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Initial Diag Eval - Sm | $136.88 | $182.50 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego lowest San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Initial Diag Eval Sw | $136.88 | $182.50 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Le Fu/Second Interview | $187.50 | $250.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Init Diag Eval 60Min Lcsw | $219.00 | $292.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Initial Diag Eval - Vc | $219.00 | $292.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Init Diag Eval 60 Min Phd | $273.75 | $365.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Psychiatric Room Chg Diagnostic Evaluation | $273.75 | $365.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Initial Diag Eval Phd | $273.75 | $365.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Psychiatric Diagnostic Eval W/O Medical Services | $273.75 | $365.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Init Diag Eval 60Min Phd | $273.75 | $365.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Initial Diag Eval Md | $273.75 | $365.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Initial Dx Eval Md | $273.75 | $365.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION | $318.24 | $612.00 | — | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION | $318.24 | $612.00 | — | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION | $318.24 | $612.00 | — | 48% | — source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Adi Diagnosis Interview Ex 1Hr 90791 | $340.50 | $454.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Initial Diag Eval Sw | $340.50 | $454.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Psychologist Pre-Eval Dx Interview Hr | $357.75 | $477.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Ks Dec Psychologist Pre-Eval Dx Interview Hr | $357.75 | $477.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Diagnos Interview Ex 1Hr 90791 | $357.75 | $477.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Diagnostic Evaluation | $383.35 | $697.00 | $83.64–$940.95 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Le Forensic Interview | $412.50 | $550.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Diag Intrvw Exam 120Min Lcsw | $438.00 | $584.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Intake Interview Phd | $478.50 | $638.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC ER PSYCH EVAL DIAG | $750.00 | $1,000.00 | $150.00–$820.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC ER PSYCH EVAL DIAG | $750.00 | $1,000.00 | $63.20–$900.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC ER PSYCH EVAL DIAG | $750.00 | $1,000.00 | $340.00–$770.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC ER PSYCH EVAL DIAG | $750.00 | $1,000.00 | $297.00–$800.00 | 25% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $136.88, median $383.35, highest $750.00 — a 5.5× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 9 facilities here, median $383.35 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At 5 of 5 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
This is a diagnostic evaluation by a mental health clinician, usually the first visit before therapy starts. It covers history, current symptoms, a mental status exam and a treatment plan, without medical services such as prescribing.
What the price covers
The price covers the evaluation visit. Psychological testing, follow-up therapy sessions and any facility fee at a hospital-based clinic are billed separately.