Paracentesis cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 5 hospitals publish a cash price for paracentesis with imaging guidance: from $70.21 to $3,762.93, with a median of $1,239.83. The lowest price is at TidalHealth Peninsula (Salisbury). The highest price is 53.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $1,239.83, is 3% below the US median of $1,275.50.
- That is 1.3× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($926.63).
- Maryland ranks 23rd of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 2 of 5 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Why Maryland prices look low: Maryland is the only state where a commission (the HSCRC) sets hospital rates for every payer, so its hospitals publish prices far below the rest of the country. A separate physician fee may still apply.
Maryland law (Health-General §19-214.1) requires hospitals to give free medically necessary care to patients with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and to cut the bill by 75% up to 250% and 60% up to 300%. With medical debt above 25% of family income in a year, discounts reach up to 500%. Immigration status does not count. Ask the hospital for its financial assistance application. Other states' laws.
Outpatient cash prices, one line per hospital — its lowest listed price for code 49083. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 27, 2026. See them on a map
Hospitals in Maryland, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| TidalHealth Peninsula lowest Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC MC ARTHROCENT,APSIRAT &/OR INJECT, MAJOR JOINT/BURSA | $70.21 | $71.64 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| Greater Baltimore Medical Center Towson · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC Paracentesis | $290.36 | $296.29 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD PARACENTESIS,ABDOMINAL,W GUIDANCE NR | $1,239.83 | $1,239.83 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC ABDOMINAL PARACENTESIS W IMAGE GUIDANCE | $1,911.54 | $1,950.55 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Abdominal paracentesis (diagnostic or therapeutic); with imaging guidance | $3,762.93 | $3,762.93 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2 | $290.36 | $1,100.95 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $3,762.93 | $3,762.93 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $1,239.83 | $1,239.83 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $70.21 | $70.21 |
What paracentesis is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Paracentesis explained.
Paracentesis with imaging guidance in other states
- Alabama$904.63
- Alaska$1,292.40
- Arizona$1,479.12
- Arkansas$714.01
- California$1,835.60
- Colorado$1,534.95
- Connecticut$2,348.50
- Delaware$1,644.72
- District of Columbia$1,403.14, 3 hospitals
- Florida$1,548.95
- Georgia$1,566.27
- Hawaii$1,242.50
- Idaho$1,357.50
- Illinois$1,430.00
- Indiana$1,384.66
- Iowa$1,054.20
- Kansas$738.40
- Kentucky$1,124.40
- Louisiana$588.90
- Maine$819.00
- Massachusetts$1,764.33
- Michigan$1,220.05
- Minnesota$910.66
- Mississippi$682.50
- Missouri$1,008.80
- Montana$812.00
- Nebraska$1,081.06
- Nevada$1,015.00
- New Hampshire$1,011.73
- New Jersey$1,212.61
- New Mexico$1,249.60
- New York$1,424.47
- North Carolina$1,288.20
- North Dakota$960.00
- Ohio$1,736.25
- Oklahoma$929.10
- Oregon$1,309.71
- Pennsylvania$1,684.50
- Puerto Rico$2,100.00, 3 hospitals
- Rhode Island$1,855.80
- South Carolina$1,485.23
- South Dakota$1,961.60
- Tennessee$586.74
- Texas$1,457.75
- Utah$1,241.66
- Vermont$705.00
- Virginia$1,163.05
- Washington$1,325.46
- West Virginia$1,426.80
- Wisconsin$1,287.65
- Wyoming$995.33
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.