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Prescription Medicine Level Test

California rates for HCPCS 80161

Measures how much of one particular prescription medicine is present in the body at the time the sample is taken. Tests like this are used for medicines whose safe range is narrow, so the dose can be raised or lowered to keep the level effective without becoming toxic.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Prescription Medicine Level Test cost?

$14.45

Typical negotiated rate. In California, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $14.45 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $12.02 from a physician practice, and about $38.02 from a hospital or other facility.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 9 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$12.02$7.94 to $16.60
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$38.02$23.99 to $77.62

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $38 · 10th to 90th $15 to $145Professionalmedian $12 · 10th to 90th $7 to $27
$10$20$50$100$200facility $38professional $12

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$15.49
Median
$40.74
Typical High
$95.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$15.85
Typical High
$15.85
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$33.11
Typical High
$91.20
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.41
Median
$9.33
Typical High
$23.99
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$37.15
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$199.53
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.51
Median
$12.02
Typical High
$19.05
Central California Alliance for Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$14.79
Typical High
$19.50
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.59
Median
$28.18
Typical High
$61.66
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.77
Median
$15.49
Typical High
$42.66
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$14.79
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$20.42
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$15.14
Median
$19.50
Typical High
$50.12
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$12.30
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$50.12
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$9.77
Median
$16.60
Typical High
$38.90
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$7.76
Typical High
$18.62
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$10.47
Typical High
$43.65
4 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$19.05
Typical High
$47.86
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$3.09
Median
$7.59
Typical High
$19.50
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$6.92
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$7.94
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$2.82
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$3.24

Where California sits

The same service costs 3.7 times more in Alaska than in Nebraska. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

California· 35th of 51

$14.45

AK $41.69NE $11.22

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.