Urine dipstick, automated cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 15 hospitals publish a cash price for urinalysis without microscope exam, automated: from $5.43 to $41.24, with a median of $11.50. The lowest price is at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (Towson). The highest price is 7.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $11.50, is 56% below the US median of $26.07.
- That is 5.1× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($2.25).
- Maryland ranks 4th of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 1 of 15 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 81003. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Oct 29, 2026. See them on a map
Hospitals in Maryland, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Baltimore Medical Center lowest Towson · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC Urinalysis Macroscopic | $5.43 | $5.54 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Western Maryland Cumberland · Cumberland, MD-WV POC UA | $6.00 | $10.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Frederick Health Hospital Frederick · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV URINALYSIS AUTO W/O MICROSCO | $8.01 | $8.17 | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Leonardtown · Lexington Park, MD UR INALYSIS,AUTOMATED WO MICRO | $8.55 | $8.72 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD URINE DIP/TAB,AUTO/NONMICRO | $8.57 | $8.74 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV UR INALYSIS,AUTOMATED WO MICRO | $10.58 | $10.80 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| TidalHealth Peninsula Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC URINALYSIS ROUTINE | $10.98 | $11.20 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV UR INALYSIS,AUTOMATED WO MICRO | $11.50 | $11.73 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Harbor Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD URINE DIP/TAB,AUTO/NONMICRO | $11.66 | $11.90 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD URINE DIP/TAB,AUTO/NONMICRO | $11.75 | $11.99 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Urinalysis, by dip stick or tablet reagent for bilirubin, glucose, hemoglobin, ketones, leukocytes, nitrite, pH, protein, specific gravity, urobilinogen, any number of these constituents; automated, without microscopy | $12.00 | $12.52 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC URINALYSIS, AUTO, W/O SCOPE | $12.81 | $13.07 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD URINE DIP/TAB,AUTO/NONMICRO | $13.00 | $13.27 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD POC Urinalysis, auto w/out Mi | $14.78 | $15.08 | Nov 5, 2025 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD URINALYSIS, AUTOMATED,WO MICRO | $41.24 | $41.24 | Apr 1, 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 | 7 | $5.43 | $11.75 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3 | $8.01 | $10.58 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $6.00 | $6.00 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 1 | $8.55 | $8.55 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $41.24 | $41.24 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $10.98 | $10.98 |
What urine dipstick, automated is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Urine dipstick, automated explained.
Urinalysis without microscope exam, automated in other states
- Alabama$21.90
- Alaska$49.32
- Arizona$19.32
- Arkansas$14.04
- California$56.00
- Colorado$43.00
- Connecticut$18.41
- Delaware$58.30
- District of Columbia$29.00, 3 hospitals
- Florida$83.60
- Georgia$36.19
- Hawaii$24.05
- Idaho$13.00
- Illinois$25.37
- Indiana$24.50
- Iowa$29.86
- Kansas$22.00
- Kentucky$25.70
- Louisiana$8.68
- Maine$21.60
- Massachusetts$21.00
- Michigan$13.00
- Minnesota$25.99
- Mississippi$15.12
- Missouri$22.43
- Montana$27.14
- Nebraska$33.82
- Nevada$66.90
- New Hampshire$25.43
- New Jersey$5.09
- New Mexico$23.70
- New York$17.00
- North Carolina$39.48
- North Dakota$17.80
- Ohio$23.40
- Oklahoma$14.35
- Oregon$19.50
- Pennsylvania$17.85
- Puerto Rico$62.40
- Rhode Island$27.00
- South Carolina$39.50
- South Dakota$39.60
- Tennessee$10.80
- Texas$48.11
- Utah$99.17
- Vermont$38.00
- Virginia$33.00
- Washington$28.68
- West Virginia$15.50
- Wisconsin$25.00
- Wyoming$21.05
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.