Biopsy pathology exam cost in Washington
In Washington, 54 hospitals publish a cash price for biopsy tissue exam by a pathologist (level IV): from $17.45 to $442.24, with a median of $168.90. The lowest price is at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center (Vancouver). The highest price is 25.3× the lowest.
- The median here, $168.90, is about the same as the US median of $170.33.
- That is 3.2× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($53.24).
- Washington ranks 23rd of 50 states by median, cheapest first.
- 4 of 54 hospitals list a cash price equal to their full list price, with no self-pay discount.
Washington law (RCW 70.170.060) requires hospital charity care: patients with family income up to 300% of the federal poverty level owe nothing at hospitals in large health systems (200% at other hospitals), with 75% and 50% discounts up to 400% (300% at other hospitals). It covers the part of the bill a patient owes, insured or not. Ask the hospital for its charity care 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 Nov 12, 2026. See them on a map
Lowest$17.45Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center
Median$168.90half of hospitals charge less
Highest$442.24in Washington
Lowest saves$151.45vs the median
Hospitals in Washington, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center lowest Vancouver · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA HC GROSS MICRO LEVEL 4 | $17.45 | $26.85 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Willapa Harbor Hospital South Bend · South Bend, WA PATHOLOGY EXAMINATION OF TISSUE USING A MICROSCOPE; INTERMEDIATE COMPLEXITY | $20.83 | $29.75 | Feb 24, 2026 source file |
| Providence Mount Carmel Hospital Colville · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC CELL BLOCK | $34.30 | $49.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Holy Family Hospital Spokane · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC CELL BLOCK | $49.00 | $70.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Overlake Medical Center & Clinics Bellevue · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Hc Renal Bx Sorensen Media Uw Pathology | $55.50 | $111.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Arbor Health Morton Hospital Morton · Centralia, WA Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | $62.00 | $100.00 | May 18, 2026 source file |
| Forks Community Hospital Forks · Port Townsend, WA Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | $64.00 | $80.00 | Oct 27, 2026 source file |
| Prov Sacred Hrt Medical Center & Childs Hospital Spokane · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC PR 88305 MUSCLE BIOPSY (OF PANL) | $64.40 | $92.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence St Joseph Hospital Chewelah · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA HC PR 88305 TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | $64.40 | $92.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Summit Pacific Medical Center Elma · Aberdeen, WA Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | $77.22 | $143.00 | Aug 31, 2026 source file |
| Ocean Beach Hospital Ilwaco · Ilwaco, WA HC BILL SURG LEVEL 4 | $78.00 | $104.00 | Oct 23, 2026 source file |
| Astria Sunnyside Hospital Sunnyside · Kennewick-Richland, WA Bill PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV | $79.23 | $139.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Astria Toppenish Hospital Toppenish · Yakima, WA Bill PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV | $92.95 | $143.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence Centralia Hospital Centralia · Centralia, WA HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM LAB | $94.12 | $181.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Providence St Peter Hospital Olympia · Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM LAB | $94.12 | $181.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Kittitas County Public Hospital Dist 1 Ellensburg · Ellensburg, WA Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | $95.20 | $112.00 | Oct 7, 2026 source file |
| Seattle Children's Hospital Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Electron Microscopy Uw Surg 4 | $131.00 | $131.00 | Mar 31, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Edmonds Edmonds · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS AND MICROSCOPIC EXAM LAB | $138.24 | $288.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Issaquah Issaquah · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS AND MICROSCOPIC EXAM LAB | $138.24 | $288.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Medical Center Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS AND MICROSCOPIC EXAM LAB | $138.24 | $288.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Swedish Medical Center / Cherry Hill Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS AND MICROSCOPIC EXAM LAB | $138.24 | $288.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Confluence Health Hospital Wenatchee · Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA HC Surgical Path Level IV;Gross,Micros | $146.70 | $163.00 | Aug 10, 2026 source file |
| Providence Regional Medical Center Everett Everett · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS AND MICROSCOPIC EXAM LAB | $149.76 | $288.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Saint Clare Hospital Lakewood · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC SURG PATH G&M-LEVEL IV H&E | $157.75 | $546.97 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| St Anthony Hospital Gig Harbor · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC SURG PATH G&M-LEVEL IV H&E | $166.34 | $546.97 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Highline Medical Center Burien · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC SURG PATH G&M-LEVEL IV H&E | $166.50 | $546.97 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| St Francis Community Hospital Federal Way · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC SURG PATH G&M-LEVEL IV H&E | $168.20 | $546.97 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Olympic Medical Center Port Angeles · Port Angeles, WA Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope | $169.60 | $212.00 | Jun 24, 2026 source file |
| Providence St Mary Medical Center Walla Walla · Walla Walla, WA HC BILL SURG SLIDE PREP | $175.00 | $250.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| St Joseph Medical Center Tacoma · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC SURG PATH G&M-LEVEL IV H&E | $179.25 | $546.97 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Virginia Mason Medical Center Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC Level IV Surg Path Gross & Microscopic Exam | $185.93 | $359.00 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Cascade Medical Center Leavenworth · Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA Surgical pathology, gross & microscopic exam | $189.60 | $237.00 | May 15, 2026 source file |
| St Elizabeth Hospital Enumclaw · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC SURG PATH G&M-LEVEL IV H&E | $200.85 | $546.97 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Prosser Memorial Health Hospital Prosser · Kennewick-Richland, WA HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM # | $207.90 | $378.00 | Jan 1, 2025 source file |
| PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center Friday Harbor · Friday Harbor, WA TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | $218.40 | $336.00 | Mar 20, 2026 source file |
| Shriners Childrens - Spokane Spokane · Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA PATHOLOGY EXAMINATION OF TISSUE USING A MICROSCOPE; INTERMEDIATE COMPLEXITY | $218.50 | $218.50 | Mar 18, 2026 source file |
| Lake Chelan Community Hospital Chelan · Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | $220.96 | $220.96 | Sep 1, 2026 source file |
| Cascade Valley Hospital Arlington · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA HC SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV | $222.40 | $278.00 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| Samaritan Hospital Moses Lake · Moses Lake, WA Pathology exam tissue w/microscope intermediate complexity | $225.00 | $225.00 | Jan 4, 2026 source file |
| Valley Medical Center Renton · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Level IV Surg Pathology Gross&Microscopic Exam | $229.60 | $328.00 | Mar 12, 2026 source file |
| Jefferson Healthcare Port Townsend · Port Townsend, WA Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | $231.20 | $289.00 | Aug 6, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth St John Medical Center Longview · Longview-Kelso, WA TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | $239.20 | $368.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth United General Medical Center Sedro Woolley · Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | $249.60 | $384.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Vancouver · Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | $259.35 | $399.00 | Mar 20, 2026 source file |
| Othello Community Hospital Othello · Othello, WA Pathology examination of tissue using a microscope, intermediate complexity | $263.25 | $351.00 | Jul 1, 2026 source file |
| Commonspirit Washington Community Care Silverdale · Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA HC SURG PATH G&M-LEVEL IV H&E | $264.63 | $546.97 | Sep 30, 2026 source file |
| Skagit Valley Hospital Mount Vernon · Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA HC SURGICAL PATH LEVEL IV | $268.40 | $335.50 | Mar 26, 2026 source file |
| PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center Bellingham · Bellingham, WA TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | $274.30 | $422.00 | Mar 21, 2026 source file |
| Kaiser Permanente Central Hospital Seattle · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA SURGICAL PATHOLOGY LEVEL IV (HC) BKR | $296.00 | $370.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics Shelton · Shelton, WA LEVEL IV-SURG PATH GROSS/MIC | $305.93 | $407.90 | Mar 10, 2026 source file |
| Ferry County Memorial Hospital Republic · Republic, WA LVL IV SURG PATH GROSS MCRO EX | $340.00 | $400.00 | Sep 14, 2026 source file |
| Snoqualmie Valley Hospital Snoqualmie · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA Facility Fee HC SURG PATH,LEVEL IV | $353.78 | $609.96 | Apr 14, 2026 source file |
| Kadlec Regional Medical Center Richland · Kennewick-Richland, WA HC LEVEL IV SURG PATHOLOGY GROSS&MICROSCOPIC EXAM | $375.20 | $536.00 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Lourdes Health Pasco · Kennewick-Richland, WA TISSUE EXAM BY PATHOLOGIST | $442.24 | $1,105.61 | Jul 10, 2026 source file |
Hospital The hospital that published the price, its city and the line exactly as written in its price file.
Cash price The hospital's own price for a patient paying without insurance (“discounted cash” in its price file). Hospitals must publish it under federal law, 45 CFR 180.50. Call to confirm it before booking. More
List price The hospital's full chargemaster price (“gross charge”) before any discount. Almost nobody pays it; the gap to the cash price shows what the self-pay discount is worth. More
File date When the hospital last updated its price file, as the file says itself. A dash means the file gives no date.
At or below Medicare This cash price is at or below what Medicare pays a hospital for the same service, which is unusually low. It is what the hospital's file says; confirm it and what it includes before booking. More
No cash discount This line's cash price equals the hospital's full list price. Many hospitals still reduce bills for uninsured patients: ask the billing office for its self-pay discount in writing. More
By metro area
Each metro page compares every listing, including prices for both sides of the body.
| Metro area | Hospitals | Lowest | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 18 | $55.50 | $166.42 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 5 | $34.30 | $64.40 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | 4 | $79.23 | $291.55 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | 3 | $146.70 | $189.60 |
| Centralia, WA | 2 | $62.00 | $78.06 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 2 | $249.60 | $259.00 |
| Port Townsend, WA | 2 | $64.00 | $147.60 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 2 | $17.45 | $138.40 |
| Aberdeen, WA | 1 | $77.22 | $77.22 |
| Bellingham, WA | 1 | $274.30 | $274.30 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 1 | $264.63 | $264.63 |
| Ellensburg, WA | 1 | $95.20 | $95.20 |
| Friday Harbor, WA | 1 | $218.40 | $218.40 |
| Ilwaco, WA | 1 | $78.00 | $78.00 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | 1 | $239.20 | $239.20 |
| Moses Lake, WA | 1 | $225.00 | $225.00 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 1 | $94.12 | $94.12 |
| Othello, WA | 1 | $263.25 | $263.25 |
| Port Angeles, WA | 1 | $169.60 | $169.60 |
| Republic, WA | 1 | $340.00 | $340.00 |
| South Bend, WA | 1 | $20.83 | $20.83 |
| Shelton, WA | 1 | $305.93 | $305.93 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 1 | $175.00 | $175.00 |
| Yakima, WA | 1 | $92.95 | $92.95 |
Market A metro area (as the Census Bureau defines it) or, outside metro areas, a town. Each links to every hospital price there.
Hospitals How many hospitals publish a cash price for this code here. Each hospital counts once, at its lowest outpatient cash price.
Lowest The lowest cash price among those hospitals.
Median The middle cash price: half of the hospitals charge less, half charge more. One price per hospital. More
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
- Maryland$172.46
- Massachusetts$171.50
- Michigan$109.10
- Minnesota$141.92
- Mississippi$80.60
- 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$132.00
- Oregon$197.60
- Pennsylvania$169.20
- Puerto Rico$140.00, 1 hospital
- Rhode Island$111.30
- South Carolina$190.80
- South Dakota$161.20
- Tennessee$75.45
- Texas$296.13
- Utah$485.46
- Vermont$261.69
- Virginia$217.80
- West Virginia$108.67
- Wisconsin$215.80
- Wyoming$98.19
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.