PT evaluation, low complexity cost in San Diego, CA — inpatient
In San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 5 hospitals list a cash price for physical therapy evaluation, low complexity (typically about 20 minutes) as an inpatient: from $162.25 to $237.00, with a median of $222.56. The lowest listed price is at UC San Diego Medical Center — $60.31 less than the median here. Across California, the median is $222.56 at 89 hospitals.
Cash prices at 5 facilities across 2 cities for code 97161, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC San Diego Medical Center lowest San Diego, CA · (619) 543-6222 Evaluation of physical therapy, typically 20 minutes | $162.25 | $295.00 | $29.50–$191.75 | 45% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Zion San Diego, CA · (619) 528-5000 PHYSICAL THERAPY EVALUATION LOW COMPLEX 20 MINS | $222.56 | $428.00 | — | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA · (760) 528-6295 PHYSICAL THERAPY EVALUATION LOW COMPLEX 20 MINS | $222.56 | $428.00 | — | 48% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego - Clairemont Mesa San Diego, CA PHYSICAL THERAPY EVALUATION LOW COMPLEX 20 MINS | $222.56 | $428.00 | — | 48% | — source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Smh- P/T Eval 20 Min | $237.00 | $316.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Ip Eval Low Complexity 4 Rvu | $366.00 | $488.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA · (858) 576-1700 Rch Ip Eval Low Complexity 5 Rvu | $423.75 | $565.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $162.25, median $222.56, highest $237.00 — a 1.5× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 6 facilities here, median $222.56 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
Cash or insurance?
At the one hospital here that publishes insurer rates for this code, the cash price is below the highest rate a health plan has negotiated. 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 first physical therapy evaluation of low complexity, typically about 20 minutes face to face. It is used for a stable problem with few other health factors, and ends with a plan of care.
What the price covers
The price covers the evaluation, billed once per evaluation rather than in time units. Treatment on the same day, such as therapeutic exercise or manual therapy, is billed separately in 15-minute units.