Level 1 ER visit cost in Portland, OR
In Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA, 14 hospitals list a cash price for emergency room visit, level 1 of 5, minor problem that may not need a doctor: from $20.80 to $535.50, with a median of $51.75. The lowest listed price is at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center and 4 other hospitals — $30.95 less than the median here. Across Oregon, the median is $103.10 at 38 hospitals.
Cash prices at 14 facilities across 9 cities for code 99281, as an outpatient — the setting a self-pay patient normally buys. Collected Sep 23, 2026; the hospital files themselves were last updated between Mar 23, 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center lowest Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 PR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP | $20.80 | $32.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center lowest Vancouver, WA · (360) 487-1000 PR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP | $20.80 | $32.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center lowest Portland, OR · (503) 413-7682 PR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP | $20.80 | $32.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center lowest Portland, OR · (503) 413-7682 PR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP | $20.80 | $32.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center lowest Tualatin, OR · (503) 692-1212 PR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP | $20.80 | $32.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center lowest Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 PR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP | $20.80 | $32.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center lowest Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 PR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP | $20.80 | $32.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center lowest Gresham, OR · (503) 674-1122 PR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP | $20.80 | $32.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Portland Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 215-1111 HC PR ED 99281 VISIT MINOR PROBLEM MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP CDM | $42.75 | $57.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Milwaukie Hospital Milwaukie, OR · (503) 513-8300 HC PR ED 99281 VISIT MINOR PROBLEM MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP CDM | $42.75 | $57.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Portland Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 215-1111 HC PR ED 99281 VISIT MINOR PROBLEM MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP CDM | $42.75 | $57.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Newberg Medical Center Newberg, OR · (503) 537-1555 HC PR ED 99281 VISIT MINOR PROBLEM MAY NOT REQ PHYS/QHP CDM | $60.75 | $81.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center Tualatin, OR · (503) 692-1212 HC PHZ SP ER PROBLEM FOCUSED | $137.15 | $211.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center Gresham, OR · (503) 674-1122 HC PHZ SP ER PROBLEM FOCUSED | $137.15 | $211.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-7682 HC PHZ SP ER PROBLEM FOCUSED | $137.15 | $211.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-7682 HC PHZ SP ER PROBLEM FOCUSED | $137.15 | $211.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 HC PHZ SP ER PROBLEM FOCUSED | $137.15 | $211.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 HC PHZ SP ER PROBLEM FOCUSED | $137.15 | $211.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 HC PHZ SP ER PROBLEM FOCUSED | $137.15 | $211.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Portland Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 215-1111 HC ED OB FAC E&M VISIT LEVEL 1 CDM | $156.00 | $208.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center Oregon City, OR · (503) 656-1631 HC ED OB FAC E&M VISIT LEVEL 1 CDM | $156.00 | $208.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Portland Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 215-1111 HC ED OB FAC E&M VISIT LEVEL 1 CDM | $156.00 | $208.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Milwaukie Hospital Milwaukie, OR · (503) 513-8300 HC ED OB FAC E&M VISIT LEVEL 1 CDM | $156.00 | $208.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Newberg Medical Center Newberg, OR · (503) 537-1555 HC ED OB FAC E&M VISIT LEVEL 1 CDM | $156.00 | $208.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Tuality Healthcare Hillsboro, OR · (503) 681-1111 ED Level 1 | $253.50 | $390.00 | $73.11–$390.00 | 35% | — source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 HC SERVICE LEVEL 1 ED | $271.70 | $418.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center Tualatin, OR · (503) 692-1212 HC SERVICE LEVEL 1 ED | $271.70 | $418.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-7682 HC SERVICE LEVEL 1 ED | $271.70 | $418.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-7682 HC SERVICE LEVEL 1 ED | $271.70 | $418.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center Gresham, OR · (503) 674-1122 HC SERVICE LEVEL 1 ED | $271.70 | $418.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 HC SERVICE LEVEL 1 ED | $271.70 | $418.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Emanuel Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 413-2200 HC SERVICE LEVEL 1 ED | $271.70 | $418.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center Vancouver, WA · (360) 487-1000 HC SERVICE LEVEL 1 ED | $299.00 | $460.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Vancouver, WA · (360) 256-2000 EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISIT FOR PROBLEM OF MILD SEVERITY | $305.50 | $470.00 | $11.26–$362.00 | 35% | — source file |
| Oregon Health & Science University Portland, OR · (503) 494-9000 ED Level 1 | $310.70 | $478.00 | $75.75–$478.00 | 35% | Mar 23, 2026 source file |
| Providence Newberg Medical Center Newberg, OR · (503) 537-1555 HC ED FAC E&M VISIT LEVEL 1 CDM | $411.75 | $549.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Milwaukie Hospital Milwaukie, OR · (503) 513-8300 HC ED FAC E&M VISIT LEVEL 1 CDM | $411.75 | $549.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center Oregon City, OR · (503) 656-1631 HC ED FAC E&M VISIT LEVEL 1 CDM | $411.75 | $549.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Portland Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 215-1111 HC ED FAC E&M VISIT LEVEL 1 CDM | $411.75 | $549.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Portland Medical Center Portland, OR · (503) 215-1111 HC ED FAC E&M VISIT LEVEL 1 CDM | $411.75 | $549.00 | — | 25% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center Clackamas, OR · (503) 652-2880 "FACILITY USE-EMERGENCY ROOM, LEVEL 1" | $535.50 | $630.00 | $186.00–$600.00 | 15% | — source file |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Westside Hillsboro, OR · (971) 310-0100 "FACILITY USE-EMERGENCY ROOM, LEVEL 1" | $535.50 | $630.00 | $186.00–$600.00 | 15% | — source file |
Outpatient: lowest $20.80, median $51.75, highest $535.50 — a 25.7× difference within the same market.
As an inpatient, the same code is billed by 11 facilities here, median $156.00. 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 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 the lowest of five emergency department visit levels, used for a minor problem that needs little care. Since 2023 this level may apply even when no physician or similar clinician needs to see the patient. The level is assigned after the visit: doctors pick it by the complexity of their medical decision making, and hospitals pick the facility level by the care and resources used, so a patient cannot choose it in advance.
What the price covers
The hospital price for this code is the facility fee for the ER visit. The emergency physician bills separately, and lab tests, imaging, medicines and procedures are added on top.