Hepatitis C RNA test cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 15 hospitals publish a cash price for hepatitis C viral load (HCV RNA) test: from $103.64 to $583.58, with a median of $443.35. The lowest price is at Greater Baltimore Medical Center (Towson). The highest price is 5.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $443.35, is 119% above the US median of $202.46.
- That is 10.3× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($42.84).
- Maryland ranks 46th of 50 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 87522. 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 Hepatitis C Virus Rna Quant By | $103.64 | $105.76 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Western Maryland Cumberland · Cumberland, MD-WV HEPATITUS C QUANTIFICATION | $259.80 | $433.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Frederick Health Hospital Frederick · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HEPATITIS C VIRUS RNA QUANT | $320.45 | $326.99 | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Leonardtown · Lexington Park, MD HEPATITIS C RNA QUANT | $342.00 | $348.98 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HEPATITIS C RNA QUANT | $342.70 | $349.69 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HEPATITIS C RNA QUANT | $423.24 | $431.88 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| TidalHealth Peninsula Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC HEPATITIS C, REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION & QUANTIFICATION | $439.11 | $448.07 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Hep C RNA/DNA | $443.35 | $452.40 | Nov 5, 2025 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV HEPATITIS C RNA QUANT | $459.89 | $469.28 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Harbor Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HEPATITIS C RNA QUANT | $466.42 | $475.94 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HEPATITIS C RNA QUANT | $469.89 | $479.48 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); hepatitis C, quantification, includes reverse transcription when performed | $500.84 | $500.84 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC IADNA HEPATITIS C QUANT & REVERSE TRANSCRIPTION | $512.49 | $522.95 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HEPATITIS C RNA QUANT | $520.27 | $530.89 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD HCV QUANTITATIVE ASSAY | $583.58 | $583.58 | 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 | $103.64 | $466.42 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3 | $320.45 | $423.24 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $259.80 | $259.80 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 1 | $342.00 | $342.00 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $500.84 | $500.84 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $583.58 | $583.58 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $439.11 | $439.11 |
What hepatitis C RNA test is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Hepatitis C RNA test explained.
Hepatitis C viral load (HCV RNA) test in other states
- Alabama$194.25
- Alaska$323.42
- Arizona$88.85
- Arkansas$131.30
- California$87.88
- Colorado$296.03
- Connecticut$183.07
- Delaware$640.20
- District of Columbia$406.45, 3 hospitals
- Florida$113.18
- Georgia$275.59
- Hawaii$335.33
- Idaho$246.75
- Illinois$265.00
- Indiana$223.78
- Iowa$279.56
- Kansas$261.96
- Kentucky$250.20
- Louisiana$123.12
- Maine$172.52
- Massachusetts$198.36
- Michigan$131.60
- Minnesota$128.41
- Mississippi$158.32
- Missouri$297.50
- Montana$508.22
- Nebraska$345.29
- Nevada$329.00
- New Hampshire$481.50
- New Jersey$49.27
- New Mexico$319.58
- New York$136.34
- North Carolina$161.47
- North Dakota$131.20
- Ohio$192.40
- Oklahoma$222.28
- Oregon$196.30
- Pennsylvania$284.40
- Puerto Rico$1,959.00, 4 hospitals
- Rhode Island$261.60
- South Carolina$395.85
- South Dakota$254.63
- Tennessee$154.70
- Texas$240.03
- Utah$329.53
- Vermont$466.28
- Virginia$253.00
- Washington$335.35
- West Virginia$199.50
- Wisconsin$221.27
- Wyoming$222.49
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.