Biopsy pathology exam cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 15 hospitals publish a cash price for biopsy tissue exam by a pathologist (level IV): from $68.61 to $244.00, with a median of $172.46. The lowest price is at TidalHealth Peninsula (Salisbury). The highest price is 3.6× the lowest.
- The median here, $172.46, is about the same as the US median of $171.00.
- That is 3.2× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($53.24).
- Maryland ranks 25th 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 88305. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TidalHealth Peninsula lowest Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC SURG PATH, LEVEL II | $68.61 | $70.01 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| UPMC Western Maryland Cumberland · Cumberland, MD-WV MUSCLE BIOPSY TISSUE,REF | $97.20 | $162.00 | Mar 2, 2026 source file |
| Greater Baltimore Medical Center Towson · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC Surg Path-IV, Technical | $102.25 | $104.34 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Frederick Health Hospital Frederick · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV LEVEL IV SURGICAL PATHOLOGY | $120.17 | $122.62 | Mar 17, 2025 source file |
| MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Leonardtown · Lexington Park, MD PROSTATE BX | $128.25 | $130.87 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD LEV IV-SURG PATH GROSS EXAM | $128.51 | $131.13 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Olney · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV LEV IV-SURG PATH GROSS EXAM | $158.71 | $161.95 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV SURG PATH - LEVEL IV | $172.46 | $175.98 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Harbor Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD SURG PATH - LEVEL IV | $174.91 | $178.48 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD LEV IV-SURG PATH GROSS EXAM | $176.20 | $179.80 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Level IV - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination Abortion - spontaneous/missed Artery, biopsy Bone marrow, biopsy Bone exostosis Brain/meninges, other than for tumor resection Breast, biopsy, not requiring microscopic evaluation of surgical margins Breast, reduction mammoplasty Bronc | $187.82 | $187.82 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC SURG PATH,LEVEL IV | $192.17 | $196.09 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Union Hospital of Cecil County Elkton · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD BM CLOT | $193.60 | $193.60 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD PROSTATE BX | $195.11 | $199.09 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| The Kennedy Krieger Institute Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC LEVEL IV SURGICAL PATHOLOGY | $244.00 | $305.00 | Aug 27, 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 | $102.25 | $176.20 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3 | $120.17 | $158.71 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $97.20 | $97.20 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 1 | $128.25 | $128.25 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $187.82 | $187.82 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1 | $193.60 | $193.60 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $68.61 | $68.61 |
What biopsy pathology exam is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Biopsy pathology exam explained.
Biopsy tissue exam by a pathologist (level IV) in other states
- Alabama$168.00
- Alaska$290.06
- Arizona$85.96
- Arkansas$77.39
- California$130.00
- Colorado$496.64
- Connecticut$218.35
- Delaware$381.35
- District of Columbia$353.47, 3 hospitals
- Florida$116.24
- Georgia$84.07
- Hawaii$254.80
- Idaho$219.75
- Illinois$245.00
- Indiana$259.15
- Iowa$178.10
- Kansas$218.25
- Kentucky$119.60
- Louisiana$84.96
- Maine$139.68
- Massachusetts$171.50
- Michigan$109.10
- Minnesota$141.92
- Mississippi$79.30
- Missouri$197.90
- Montana$201.60
- Nebraska$196.80
- Nevada$74.33
- New Hampshire$263.14
- New Jersey$97.92
- New Mexico$206.00
- New York$152.88
- North Carolina$178.80
- North Dakota$123.22
- Ohio$203.45
- Oklahoma$140.19
- Oregon$197.60
- Pennsylvania$177.30
- Puerto Rico$140.00, 1 hospital
- Rhode Island$111.30
- South Carolina$190.80
- South Dakota$161.20
- Tennessee$75.45
- Texas$297.13
- Utah$485.46
- Vermont$261.69
- Virginia$217.80
- Washington$168.25
- West Virginia$108.67
- Wisconsin$215.80
- Wyoming$98.19
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.