go back

Office Visit, New Patient (Moderate Complexity)

California rates for HCPCS 99204

An initial appointment with a doctor or provider the patient has not seen before, involving a moderate level of medical decision-making, such as reviewing several health concerns or evaluating a condition that needs a closer look. First visits like this typically involve more time than a follow-up because the provider is building a full picture of the patient's health history for the first time. It reflects a meaningful step up in complexity from the most basic new-patient visit.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Office Visit, New Patient (Moderate Complexity) cost?

$155

Typical negotiated rate. In California, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $155 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $155 from a physician practice, and about $132 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 15 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$155$132 to $182
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$132$83.18 to $162

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $132 · 10th to 90th $69 to $234Professionalmedian $155 · 10th to 90th $115 to $229
$100$200$500$1Kfacility $132professional $155

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
$123.03
Median
$158.49
Typical High
$239.88
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$112.20
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$208.93
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$199.53
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$549.54
Anthem BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$186.21
Blue Shield
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$89.13
Blue Shield
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$114.82
Median
$162.18
Typical High
$190.55
Central California Alliance for Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$239.88
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$190.55
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$213.80
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$234.42
HealthNet
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$194.98
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$426.58
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$177.83
Typical High
$275.42
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$1,047.13
Typical High
$1,047.13
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$93.33
Typical High
$239.88
Optum
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$151.36
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$194.98
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$251.19
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$117.49
Median
$151.36
Typical High
$208.93
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$331.13
Typical High
$426.58
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$69.18
Median
$69.18
Typical High
$131.83
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$234.42
19 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
$56.23
Median
$70.79
Typical High
$85.11
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$20.89
Typical High
$25.70
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$14.13
Typical High
$16.98
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TD · Registered nurse
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$154.88
Typical High
$177.83
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$56.23
Median
$64.57
Typical High
$81.28
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$16.98
Median
$19.50
Typical High
$24.55
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$11.22
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$16.22
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
AF · Specialist physician
Typical Low
$128.82
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$218.78
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
HO · Master's level
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$128.82
Typical High
$165.96
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
TD · Registered nurse
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$134.90
Typical High
$186.21
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
25 · Same-day visit
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$204.17
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
33 · Preventive service
Typical Low
$186.21
Median
$186.21
Typical High
$186.21
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
57 · Decision for surgery
Typical Low
$154.88
Median
$223.87
Typical High
$223.87
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
93 · Audio-only telehealth
Typical Low
$165.96
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$173.78
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
GC · Resident with teaching physician
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$269.15
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
GQ · Store-and-forward telehealth
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$173.78
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Q6 · Substitute physician, paid per time
Typical Low
$147.91
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$173.78
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
SA · Nurse practitioner
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$173.78
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
SC · Medically necessary
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$173.78
Typical High
$173.78

Where California sits

The same service costs 2.3 times more in Alaska than in Alabama. 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· 25th of 51

$155

AK $263AL $115

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.