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Manual Blood Sedimentation Rate Test (ESR)

Connecticut 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?

$3.98

Typical negotiated rate. In Connecticut, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3.98 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $2.95 from a physician practice, and about $5.50 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 6 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$2.95$2.19 to $4.57
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$5.50$4.27 to $7.94

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $10Professionalmedian $3 · 10th to 90th $2 to $5
$2$5$10facility $5professional $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
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.14
Median
$3.24
Typical High
$3.39
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.63
Median
$5.50
Typical High
$10.47
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.86
Median
$2.57
Typical High
$5.13
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.75
Median
$6.76
Typical High
$15.49
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.89
Median
$5.01
Typical High
$7.08
ConnectiCare
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.51
Median
$3.47
Typical High
$5.75
Health New England
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.89
Median
$3.89
Typical High
$3.89
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.12
Median
$1.12
Typical High
$10.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.45
Median
$4.47
Typical High
$7.41
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
$1.58
Median
$1.58
Typical High
$1.70
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.65
Median
$0.65
Typical High
$0.68

Where Connecticut 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.

Connecticut· 40th of 51

$3.98

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.