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Manual Blood Sedimentation Rate Test (ESR)

Iowa 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?

$5.25

Typical negotiated rate. In Iowa, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $5.25 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $5.01 from a physician practice, and about $6.61 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 7 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$5.01$4.27 to $7.94
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$6.61$5.13 to $11.22

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $7 · 10th to 90th $4 to $14Professionalmedian $5 · 10th to 90th $4 to $10
$5$10$20$50$100facility $7professional $5

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
$3.31
Median
$6.61
Typical High
$12.02
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.24
Median
$3.31
Typical High
$6.61
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.57
Median
$8.32
Typical High
$12.59
Hally Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$8.71
Typical High
$13.18
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$5.13
Median
$6.92
Typical High
$35.48
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$5.13
Typical High
$10.00
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$5.25
Typical High
$45.71
Midlands
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.37
Median
$4.37
Typical High
$4.37
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$10.96
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.89
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$7.41
Wellmark
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.39
Median
$4.27
Typical High
$4.27

Where Iowa 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.

Iowa· 15th of 51

$5.25

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.