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Manual Blood Sedimentation Rate Test (ESR)

Maryland 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?

$3.39

Typical negotiated rate. In Maryland, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3.39 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $3.39 from a physician practice, and about $2.95 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$3.39$3.09 to $3.47
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$2.95$2.34 to $5.37

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $3 · 10th to 90th $1 to $10Professionalmedian $3 · 10th to 90th $3 to $5
$2$5$10facility $3professional $3

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

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.98
Median
$3.98
Typical High
$5.37
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.34
Median
$3.16
Typical High
$4.17
CareFirst
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$3.09
Median
$3.39
Typical High
$4.27
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$2.82
Typical High
$5.50
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.24
Median
$3.98
Typical High
$10.47
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4.27
Median
$4.90
Typical High
$6.61
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.12
Median
$1.12
Typical High
$10.47
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$2.14
Median
$2.95
Typical High
$4.79
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1.66
Median
$3.47
Typical High
$3.47
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
$1.58
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$0.63
Median
$0.65
Typical High
$0.65

Where Maryland 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.

Maryland· 47th of 51

$3.39

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.