AST liver test cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 15 hospitals publish a cash price for AST (aspartate aminotransferase) enzyme test: from $3.00 to $48.23, with a median of $5.75. The lowest price is at UPMC Western Maryland (Cumberland). The highest price is 16.1× the lowest.
- The median here, $5.75, is 85% below the US median of $39.09.
- That is 1.1× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($5.18).
- Maryland has the lowest median of 51 states with at least 5 hospitals pricing this code.
- 2 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 84450. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPMC Western Maryland lowest Cumberland · Cumberland, MD-WV SGOT (AST) | $3.00 | $5.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Frederick Health Hospital Frederick · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV AST (SGOT) | $4.01 | $4.09 | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Leonardtown · Lexington Park, MD TRANS ;ASPAR AMINO(AST/SGOT) | $4.27 | $4.36 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD TRANS ;ASPAR AMINO(AST/SGOT) | $4.28 | $4.37 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Greater Baltimore Medical Center Towson · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC Ast | $4.56 | $4.65 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV TRANS ;ASPAR AMINO(AST/SGOT) | $5.29 | $5.40 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| TidalHealth Peninsula Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC AST (SGOT) | $5.49 | $5.60 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV TRANS ;ASPAR AMINO(AST/SGOT) | $5.75 | $5.87 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Harbor Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD TRANS ;ASPAR AMINO(AST/SGOT) | $5.83 | $5.95 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD TRANSFERASE ASPARTAT(AST) | $5.87 | $5.99 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Transferase; aspartate amino (AST) (SGOT) | $6.26 | $6.26 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC TRANSFERASE ASPARTATE AMINO (AST) (SGOT) | $6.42 | $6.55 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD TRANS ;ASPAR AMINO(AST/SGOT) | $6.51 | $6.64 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD AST-SGOT | $7.39 | $7.54 | Nov 5, 2025 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD TRANSFERASE,ASPARTATE AMINO (AST) | $48.23 | $48.23 | 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 | $4.28 | $5.87 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3 | $4.01 | $5.29 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $3.00 | $3.00 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 1 | $4.27 | $4.27 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $6.26 | $6.26 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $48.23 | $48.23 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $5.49 | $5.49 |
What AST liver test is, what the price covers and why prices differ: AST liver test explained.
AST (aspartate aminotransferase) enzyme test in other states
- Alabama$34.05
- Alaska$53.00
- Arizona$26.80
- Arkansas$18.52
- California$45.36
- Colorado$59.92
- Connecticut$27.85
- Delaware$84.00
- District of Columbia$58.73, 3 hospitals
- Florida$54.60
- Georgia$31.20
- Hawaii$50.05
- Idaho$36.90
- Illinois$55.00
- Indiana$29.00
- Iowa$42.80
- Kansas$35.85
- Kentucky$62.25
- Louisiana$19.54
- Maine$32.60
- Massachusetts$35.00
- Michigan$22.00
- Minnesota$50.01
- Mississippi$27.30
- Missouri$46.63
- Montana$50.35
- Nebraska$61.42
- Nevada$60.90
- New Hampshire$52.68
- New Jersey$5.96
- New Mexico$61.39
- New York$24.00
- North Carolina$45.50
- North Dakota$41.40
- Ohio$25.20
- Oklahoma$37.49
- Oregon$28.50
- Pennsylvania$36.20
- Puerto Rico$19.15
- Rhode Island$34.00
- South Carolina$44.40
- South Dakota$74.50
- Tennessee$26.70
- Texas$51.70
- Utah$120.30
- Vermont$63.00
- Virginia$49.70
- Washington$42.40
- West Virginia$30.50
- Wisconsin$47.45
- Wyoming$24.51
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.