Returning patient visit, 40 min cost in Ames, IA — inpatient
In Ames, IA, 1 hospital lists a cash price for returning patient office visit, high complexity or 40+ minutes as an inpatient: from $53.60 to $53.60, with a median of $53.60. Across Iowa, the median is $235.30 at 54 hospitals.
Cash prices at 1 facility for code 99215, as an inpatient (admitted to hospital) . Collected Sep 27, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between — and —.
Where each hospital's price falls
Each dot is one hospital's cash price on a scale from the lowest to the highest in Ames, IA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Story County Hospital lowest Nevada, IA · (515) 382-2111 HC O/P VISIT EST LEVEL 5 (40-54 MIN) | $53.60 | $67.00 | $46.00–$67.00 | 20% | — source file |
| Story County Hospital Nevada, IA · (515) 382-2111 PR OFFICE/OUTPATIENT ESTABLISHED HIGH MDM 40 MIN | $252.00 | $315.00 | $217.00–$315.00 | 20% | — source file |
Inpatient: lowest $53.60, median $53.60, highest $53.60.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $164.40 — 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 the highest level of office or outpatient visit for a returning patient, with high complexity decision making or at least 40 minutes of total clinician time on the visit date. It is used for serious or rapidly changing problems that may need urgent decisions.
What the price covers
The price covers the clinician's visit. Lab tests, X-rays, procedures and any hospital facility fee at a hospital-owned clinic are billed separately.