Critical care (first hour) cost in Columbia, SC — inpatient
In Columbia, SC, 3 hospitals list a cash price for critical care, first 30 to 74 minutes as an inpatient: from $2,204.00 to $2,519.00, with a median of $2,519.00. The lowest listed price is at Kershaw Medical Center — $315.00 less than the median here. Across South Carolina, the median is $2,519.00 at 18 hospitals.
Cash prices at 3 facilities across 2 cities for code 99291, 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 Columbia, SC.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kershaw Medical Center lowest Camden, SC · (803) 432-4311 HB ER VISIT CRITICAL CARE | $2,204.00 | $4,408.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MUSC Health Columbia Medical Center Northeast Columbia, SC HB ER VISIT CRITICAL CARE | $2,519.00 | $5,038.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown Columbia, SC · (803) 256-5300 HB ER VISIT CRITICAL CARE | $2,519.00 | $5,038.00 | — | 50% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $2,204.00, median $2,519.00, highest $2,519.00 — a 1.1× difference within the same market.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 3 facilities here, median $2,519.00 — that is the price to compare if you are not being admitted.
What it is
This code bills care for a life-threatening illness or injury for the first 30 to 74 minutes. It appears on emergency department bills after serious cases and in intensive care.
What the price covers
The price is the hospital's charge. Additional half hours use 99292, and the doctor bills separately.