Breathing treatment cost in San Diego, CA
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 11 hospitals list a cash price for breathing treatment (nebulizer or inhaler) for airway obstruction: from $84.00 to $547.50, with a median of $322.92. The lowest listed price is at Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego — $238.92 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $313.05 at 100 hospitals.
Cash prices at 11 facilities across 7 cities for code 94640, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Apr 1, 2026 and Sep 1, 2026.
Lowest$84.00Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego
Median$322.92half pay less
Highest$547.50in this market
Difference6.5×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 Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
median
Lowest $84.00Highest $547.50
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 Meter Dose Inhaler Tx | $84.00 | $112.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrmer Cv-Press/Nonpress Tx Subseq | $85.50 | $114.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scren-Press/Nonpress Tx Subseq | $85.50 | $114.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrmer Hc-Press/Nonpress Tx Subseq | $85.50 | $114.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Scripps Nicu-Press/Nonpress Subseq Enc | $85.50 | $114.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scren-Press/Nonpress Initial T | $106.50 | $142.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrmer Cv-Press/Nonpress Initial T | $106.50 | $142.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Scripps Nicu-Press/Nonpress Treatment | $106.50 | $142.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrmer Hc-Press/Nonpress Initial T | $106.50 | $142.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Nebulizer Trtmnt Subsequent | $159.00 | $212.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Nebulizer Trtmnt Initial | $160.50 | $214.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rsp Inhal Tx Each Initial | $168.75 | $225.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Ippb Tx Subsequent | $180.00 | $240.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rsp Mdi Treatment Initial | $189.75 | $253.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Scrlj-Svn/Mdi Initial | $189.75 | $253.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 VENTILATOR INLINE MED/NEB | $280.00 | $559.14 | $16.78–$1,287.52 | 50% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 MED/NEB NORMAL SALINE | $280.00 | $1,287.52 | $16.78–$1,287.52 | 78% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 AERO/NEB/MDI/IPPB TX - 94640 - 3600350 | $280.00 | $559.14 | $16.78–$1,287.52 | 50% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 AERO/NEB/MDI/IPPB TX - 94640 - 6011076 | $280.00 | $559.14 | $16.78–$1,287.52 | 50% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 SPUTUM INDUCTION | $280.00 | $1,287.52 | $16.78–$1,287.52 | 78% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Paradise Valley Hospital National City, CA · (619) 470-4321 MED/NEB 15 MINUTES | $280.00 | $1,287.52 | $16.78–$1,287.52 | 78% | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 PRESSURIZED/NONPRESSURIZED INHALATION TREATMENT | $308.88 | $594.00 | — | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA PRESSURIZED/NONPRESSURIZED INHALATION TREATMENT | $308.88 | $594.00 | — | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA PRESSURIZED/NONPRESSURIZED INHALATION TREATMENT | $308.88 | $594.00 | — | 48% | — source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 AIRWAY INHALATION TREATMENT SUBS | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 94640 AEROSOL HHN INITIAL CHARGE | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 94640 AEROSOL INLINE TX, SUBSEQUENT CHARGE | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 94640 METERED DOSE INHALER TX SUBSEQ CHARGE | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 94640 AEROSOL TX,SPUTUM INDUC,SUBS CHARGE | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 94640 IPPB TX, SUBSEQUENT CHARGE | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 Initial | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 94640 AEROSOL HHN TX, SUBSEQUENT CHARGE | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 Sputum Induction | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 94640 AEROSOL TX,SPUTUM INDUCT, INIT CHARGE | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 94640 ED HHN TX INITIAL CHARGE | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 AIRWAY INHALATION TREATMENT | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 94640 ED MDI TX INITIAL CHARGE | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Tri-City Medical Center Oceanside, CA · (760) 724-8411 PAP/IPPB SYS INSTRUCT | $322.92 | $538.20 | $11.82–$455.19 | 40% | May 29, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Ippb/Ipv Initial | $370.50 | $494.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Svn/Mdi Initial | $370.50 | $494.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Nebulizer Initial Treatment | $411.75 | $549.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UC San Diego Medical Center San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Respiratory Inhaled Pressure Or Nonpressure Treatment To Relieve Airway Obstruction Or For Sputum Specimen | $496.10 | $902.00 | $16.20–$1,217.70 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center one side Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC RT MDI/DPI | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$715.40 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC NEBULIZER TREATMENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$584.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center one side Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC RT HAND HELD NEBULIZER | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$547.50 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center one side Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC RT INDUCED SPUTUM SUBSEQUENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $0.73–$715.40 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC IPPB TREATMENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.15–$625.89 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC IPPB TX SUBSEQUENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $0.05–$725.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC NEBULIZER TREATMENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$584.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital one side San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC RT HAND HELD NEBULIZER | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$7,895.20 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital one side San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC RT INDUCED SPUTUM | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.15–$7,574.51 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital one side San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC RT INDUCED SPUTUM SUBSEQUENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.15–$725.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital one side San Diego, CA · (858) 939-3400 HC RT MDI/DPI | $547.50 | $730.00 | $109.50–$657.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center one side Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC RT MDI/DPI | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$715.40 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC IPPB TX SUBSEQUENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$657.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center one side Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC RT HAND HELD NEBULIZER | $547.50 | $730.00 | $127.75–$584.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC IPPB TREATMENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.10–$715.40 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC NEBULIZER TREATMENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.10–$584.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center one side Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC RT INDUCED SPUTUM SUBSEQUENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$715.40 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center one side Chula Vista, CA · (619) 502-5800 HC RT INDUCED SPUTUM | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$547.50 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital one side La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC RT INDUCED SPUTUM SUBSEQUENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$584.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital one side La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC RT MDI/DPI | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$598.60 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital one side La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC RT INDUCED SPUTUM | $547.50 | $730.00 | $204.40–$657.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC NEBULIZER TREATMENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.10–$598.60 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC IPPB TX SUBSEQUENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$715.40 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC IPPB TREATMENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.15–$584.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Grossmont Hospital one side La Mesa, CA · (619) 465-0711 HC RT HAND HELD NEBULIZER | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$598.60 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center one side Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC RT INDUCED SPUTUM | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$511.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC IPPB TX SUBSEQUENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $0.73–$657.00 | 25% | — source file |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital and Healthcare Center Coronado, CA · (619) 435-6251 HC IPPB TREATMENT | $547.50 | $730.00 | $1.00–$715.40 | 25% | — source file |
Outpatient: lowest $84.00, median $322.92, highest $547.50 — a 6.5× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 10 facilities here, median $409.51. 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 7 of 7 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
A breathing treatment delivers medicine such as albuterol through a nebulizer or inhaler to open the airways during an asthma or COPD flare.
What the price covers
The price is for one treatment. Repeated treatments in one visit can each be billed, and the medicine may be billed separately.