Nutrition counseling cost in Maryland
In Maryland, 11 hospitals publish a cash price for nutrition counseling (medical nutrition therapy), first visit, 15 minutes: from $66.94 to $336.62, with a median of $172.81. The lowest price is at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital (Baltimore). The highest price is 5.0× the lowest.
- The median here, $172.81, is 231% above the US median of $52.20.
- That is 4.7× Medicare's 2026 national rate for the same service ($36.74).
- Maryland ranks 49th of 49 states by median, cheapest first.
- 1 of 11 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 97802. Prices for both sides of the body and inpatient prices are not mixed in. Collected Sep 29, 2026. See them on a map
Hospitals in Maryland, cheapest first
| Hospital | Cash price | List price | File date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital lowest Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Tele Med Nutr Indiv Init 15min | $66.94 | $68.31 | Nov 5, 2025 source file |
| MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MED NUTR TX, INITIAL, EA 15M | $111.10 | $113.37 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Harbor Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MED NUT THER IND INITIAL 15 MI | $145.35 | $148.32 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| Mercy Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC MED NUTR THER, 1ST, INDIV, EA 15 MIN | $155.58 | $158.75 | Jan 1, 2026 source file |
| Atlantic General Hospital Berlin · Ocean Pines, MD Medical nutrition therapy; initial assessment and intervention, individual, face-to-face with the patient, each 15 minutes | $158.00 | $158.00 | Apr 10, 2026 source file |
| TidalHealth Peninsula Salisbury · Salisbury, MD HC MNT INITIAL ASSESS IND 15 MIN | $172.81 | $176.34 | Mar 19, 2026 source file |
| The Kennedy Krieger Institute Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD HC NUTRITION EVALUATION (15 MINUTES) | $182.40 | $228.00 | Aug 27, 2026 source file |
| MedStar St. Mary's Hospital Leonardtown · Lexington Park, MD MED NUT THER IND INITIAL 15 MI | $238.26 | $243.12 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Southern Hospital Center Clinton · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MED NUT THER IND INITIAL 15 MI | $265.31 | $270.72 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MED NUTR TX, INITIAL, EA 15M | $315.91 | $322.36 | Apr 1, 2026 source file |
| MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Baltimore · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MED NUT THER IND INITIAL 15 MI | $336.62 | $343.49 | 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 | $66.94 | $155.58 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 1 | $238.26 | $238.26 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 1 | $158.00 | $158.00 |
| Salisbury, MD | 1 | $172.81 | $172.81 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1 | $265.31 | $265.31 |
What nutrition counseling is, what the price covers and why prices differ: Nutrition counseling explained.
Nutrition counseling (medical nutrition therapy), first visit, 15 minutes in other states
- Alabama$51.80
- Alaska$77.22
- Arizona$147.20
- Arkansas$34.29
- California$99.68
- Colorado$55.98
- Connecticut$73.70
- Delaware$73.18
- District of Columbia$68.66, 4 hospitals
- Florida$66.59
- Georgia$36.27
- Hawaii$42.00, 3 hospitals
- Idaho$54.75
- Illinois$52.50
- Indiana$34.20
- Iowa$44.36
- Kansas$30.36
- Kentucky$29.69
- Louisiana$30.87
- Maine$45.50
- Massachusetts$100.00
- Michigan$46.00
- Minnesota$61.49
- Mississippi$24.00
- Missouri$40.15
- Montana$45.34
- Nebraska$52.00
- Nevada$61.21
- New Hampshire$59.57
- New Jersey$40.94
- New Mexico$57.30
- New York$53.00
- North Carolina$46.50
- North Dakota$100.00
- Ohio$64.76
- Oklahoma$48.29
- Oregon$71.20
- Pennsylvania$50.40
- Puerto Rico$45.00, 1 hospital
- Rhode Island$50.75
- South Carolina$48.00
- South Dakota$54.42
- Tennessee$26.62
- Texas$50.27
- Utah$93.39
- Vermont$56.00
- Virginia$26.00
- Washington$63.70
- West Virginia$48.00
- Wisconsin$60.00
- Wyoming$67.00
Median cash price across the state's hospitals.