Blood culture cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 15 hospitals publish a cash price for blood culture for bacteria: from $24.97 to $147.78, with a median of $109.77. The lowest price is at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (Towson). The highest price is 5.9× the lowest.
- The median here, $109.77, is 5% below the US median of $115.50.
- That is 10.6× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($10.32).
- Maryland ranks 24th of 51 states by median, cheapest first.
- 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 87040. 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 Blood Culture | $24.97 | $25.48 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Western Maryland Cumberland · Cumberland, MD-WV BLOOD CULTURE W/ ARD | $64.80 | $108.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Frederick Health Hospital Frederick · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV BLOOD CULT AEROBIC ISO & ID | $80.12 | $81.75 | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Leonardtown · Lexington Park, MD CULT, BACTERIAL DEF, BLOOD | $85.51 | $87.25 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD CULT, BACTERIAL DEF, BLOOD | $85.67 | $87.42 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD CULTURE,BLOOD | $96.19 | $96.19 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV CULT, BACTERIAL DEF, BLOOD | $105.81 | $107.97 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| TidalHealth Peninsula Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC CULTURE BLOOD (BLC) | $109.77 | $112.01 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV CULT, BACTERIAL DEF, BLOOD | $114.97 | $117.32 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Harbor Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD CULT, BACTERIAL DEF, BLOOD | $116.60 | $118.98 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD CULT, BACTERIAL DEF, BLOOD | $117.47 | $119.87 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Culture, bacterial; blood, aerobic, with isolation and presumptive identification of isolates (includes anaerobic culture, if appropriate) | $125.21 | $125.21 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC BLOOD CULTURE FOR BACTERIA | $128.13 | $130.74 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD CULT, BACTERIAL DEF, BLOOD | $130.07 | $132.72 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD CULTURE ROUTINE | $147.78 | $150.80 | Nov 5, 2025 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 | $24.97 | $117.47 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3 | $80.12 | $105.81 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $64.80 | $64.80 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 1 | $85.51 | $85.51 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $125.21 | $125.21 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $96.19 | $96.19 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $109.77 | $109.77 |
What blood culture is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Blood culture explained.
Blood culture for bacteria in other states
- Alabama$81.98
- Alaska$209.15
- Arizona$126.65
- Arkansas$49.26
- California$272.16
- Colorado$209.10
- Connecticut$67.61
- Delaware$188.16
- District of Columbia$95.80, 3 hospitals
- Florida$341.00
- Georgia$150.76
- Hawaii$100.10
- Idaho$113.25
- Illinois$144.59
- Indiana$130.50
- Iowa$91.80
- Kansas$78.30
- Kentucky$112.10
- Louisiana$45.00
- Maine$83.73
- Massachusetts$79.00
- Michigan$63.00
- Minnesota$116.44
- Mississippi$89.20
- Missouri$111.24
- Montana$151.46
- Nebraska$186.89
- Nevada$236.30
- New Hampshire$140.45
- New Jersey$55.27
- New Mexico$131.08
- New York$62.83
- North Carolina$152.11
- North Dakota$85.00
- Ohio$93.60
- Oklahoma$73.78
- Oregon$110.16
- Pennsylvania$84.80
- Puerto Rico$44.42
- Rhode Island$82.80
- South Carolina$153.60
- South Dakota$164.00
- Tennessee$54.23
- Texas$204.31
- Utah$282.52
- Vermont$136.00
- Virginia$103.50
- Washington$149.05
- West Virginia$74.19
- Wisconsin$85.80
- Wyoming$110.78
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.