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Observation Care Discharge Day

California rates for HCPCS 99217

The doctor's work on the day you leave hospital after a stay under observation. It covers a final examination, going through the results and what they mean, arranging prescriptions and follow-up appointments, and preparing the discharge paperwork and instructions.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Observation Care Discharge Day cost?

$339

Typical physician fee. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $339 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $89.13 to $501.

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.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $339 · 10th to 90th $339 to $339Professionalmedian $398 · 10th to 90th $74 to $501
$100.0$200.0$500.0$1.0Kfacility $339professional $398

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Each curve is scaled to its own total: facility and professional rates are different services, shown together to compare where they cluster. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$239.88
Median
$288.40
Typical High
$346.74
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$1,698.24
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$338.84
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$338.84
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$501.19
Sutter Health Plus
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$190.55
Typical High
$190.55
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$66.07
Typical High
$66.07
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$64.57
Median
$85.11
Typical High
$123.03

Where California sits

The same service costs 16.6 times more in Kansas than in South Carolina. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

California $339 · 7th of 49
KS $501SC $30.20

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.