C. diff test cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 14 hospitals publish a cash price for C. difficile toxin gene test (stool PCR): from $84.93 to $390.21, with a median of $327.75. The lowest price is at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (Towson). The highest price is 4.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $327.75, is 140% above the US median of $136.79.
- That is 8.8× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($37.27).
- Maryland ranks 49th of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 2 of 14 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 87493. 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 Cdiff Toxin | $84.93 | $86.66 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Western Maryland Cumberland · Cumberland, MD-WV C. DIFFICILE TOXIN PROBE | $194.40 | $324.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Frederick Health Hospital Frederick · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV C DIFFICLE TOXIN GENE AMP PRB | $240.34 | $245.24 | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Leonardtown · Lexington Park, MD INF AGT DET BY NUC ACID C.DIFF | $256.51 | $261.74 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD INF AGT NUC ACID;C DIFF TOX | $257.02 | $262.27 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV INF AGT DET BY NUC ACID C.DIFF | $317.43 | $323.91 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD C DIFF PCR ASSAY | $326.17 | $326.17 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| TidalHealth Peninsula Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE, TOXIN GENE | $329.33 | $336.05 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV INF AGT NUC ACID;C DIFF TOX | $344.92 | $351.96 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Harbor Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD INF AGT DET BY NUC ACID C.DIFF | $349.81 | $356.95 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD INF AGT NUC ACID;C DIFF TOX | $352.42 | $359.61 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Clostridium difficile, toxin gene(s), amplified probe technique | $375.63 | $375.63 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC CYTOMED, DNA, AMP PROBE | $384.40 | $392.24 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD INF AGT DET BY NUC ACID C.DIFF | $390.21 | $398.17 | 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 | 6 | $84.93 | $351.12 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3 | $240.34 | $317.43 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $194.40 | $194.40 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 1 | $256.51 | $256.51 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $375.63 | $375.63 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $326.17 | $326.17 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $329.33 | $329.33 |
What C. diff test is, what the price covers and why prices differ: C. diff test explained.
C. difficile toxin gene test (stool PCR) in other states
- Alabama$98.00
- Alaska$234.00
- Arizona$72.90
- Arkansas$88.90
- California$152.88
- Colorado$293.42
- Connecticut$146.48
- Delaware$409.92
- District of Columbia$210.35, 3 hospitals
- Florida$113.60
- Georgia$88.35
- Hawaii$299.65
- Idaho$166.00
- Illinois$185.40
- Indiana$133.00
- Iowa$116.46
- Kansas$111.85
- Kentucky$99.80
- Louisiana$74.72
- Maine$108.24
- Massachusetts$169.81
- Michigan$116.00
- Minnesota$139.42
- Mississippi$55.60
- Missouri$152.01
- Montana$168.51
- Nebraska$166.18
- Nevada$92.53
- New Hampshire$208.32
- New Jersey$42.86
- New Mexico$149.60
- New York$126.45
- North Carolina$125.61
- North Dakota$192.00
- Ohio$130.40
- Oklahoma$96.00
- Oregon$156.71
- Pennsylvania$207.60
- Puerto Rico$1,003.00, 1 hospital
- Rhode Island$104.40
- South Carolina$193.50
- South Dakota$208.00
- Tennessee$89.61
- Texas$175.50
- Utah$160.40
- Vermont$233.99
- Virginia$126.09
- Washington$175.50
- West Virginia$113.60
- Wisconsin$151.80
- Wyoming$155.25
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.