Critical care (first hour) cost in Madison, WI — inpatient
In Madison, WI, 2 hospitals list a cash price for critical care, first 30 to 74 minutes as an inpatient: from $817.05 to $828.00, with a median of $822.53. The lowest listed price is at Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital — $5.48 less than the median here. Across Wisconsin, the median is $1,385.42 at 78 hospitals.
Cash prices at 2 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 Jan 28, 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 Madison, WI.
Hospitals, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | Insurers pay | Off list | File date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital lowest Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 CRITICAL CARE ILL/INJURED PATIENT INIT 30-74 MIN | $817.05 | $1,257.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital lowest Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 Pro Critical Care, First Hour | $817.05 | $1,257.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Meriter Madison, WI · (608) 417-6210 PR CRITICAL CARE, E/M 30-74 MINUTES | $828.00 | $1,035.00 | $194.23–$983.25 | 20% | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 Critical Care First 30-74 Min -Mh | $1,928.55 | $2,967.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital Portage, WI · (608) 742-4131 Fac Cc E/M Critically Ill/Injured 1st 30-74 Min | $1,928.55 | $2,967.00 | — | 35% | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| UnityPoint Health - Meriter Madison, WI · (608) 417-6210 HC CRITICAL CARE 30-74 MIN | $4,344.86 | $5,431.07 | $1,249.15–$5,159.52 | 20% | Jan 28, 2026 source file |
Inpatient: lowest $817.05, median $822.53, highest $828.00.
As an outpatient, the same code is billed by 2 facilities here, median $822.53 — 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 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.