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Manual Blood Sedimentation Rate Test (ESR)

Alabama rates for HCPCS 85651

This blood test measures how quickly red blood cells settle to the bottom of a test tube over a set period of time, using a manual laboratory method rather than an automated instrument. A faster settling rate can be a sign of inflammation somewhere in the body, though it does not point to a specific cause.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Manual Blood Sedimentation Rate Test (ESR) cost?

$4.90

Typical negotiated rate. In Alabama, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $4.90 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.09 from a physician practice, and about $8.13 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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$3.09$2.57 to $4.90
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$8.13$8.13 to $8.32

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $8 · 10th to 90th $4 to $8Professionalmedian $3 · 10th to 90th $2 to $5
$2$5$10$20$50$100facility $8professional $3

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
$4.27
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$147.91
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.95
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$4.90
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.82
Median
$2.14
Typical High
$2.14
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$8.13
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$8.32
BCBS Alabama
Setting
Professional
Modifier
21 + 22 · Increased work + 24 · Unrelated visit after surgery + 31 + 55 · Aftercare only + 99 · Multiple modifiers
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$2.95
Typical High
$3.63
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.47
Median
$3.63
Typical High
$13.49
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.04
Median
$3.02
Typical High
$19.50
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.12
Median
$3.80
Typical High
$10.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$2.57
Typical High
$5.01
2 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
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$1.74
Median
$2.45
Typical High
$2.45
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.71
Median
$0.98
Typical High
$0.98

Where Alabama sits

The same service costs 4.4 times more in Alaska than in New Jersey. 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.

Alabama· 18th of 51

$4.90

AK $13.80NJ $3.16

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.