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Observation Care Admission, Straightforward

Iowa rates for HCPCS 99218

The doctor's first full assessment when you are placed under observation in hospital — kept in a bed for monitoring and testing without being formally admitted. It covers the history, examination and plan on the day observation starts, for a problem that is comparatively uncomplicated.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Observation Care Admission, Straightforward cost?

$200

Typical physician fee. In Iowa, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $200 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $170 to $209.

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 4 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $95 · 10th to 90th $95 to $603Professionalmedian $200 · 10th to 90th $95 to $501
$100.0$200.0$500.0facility $95professional $200

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. Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$169.82
Median
$169.82
Typical High
$208.93
Medica
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$602.56
Medica
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$501.19
Midlands
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$134.90

Where Iowa sits

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

Iowa $200 · 16th of 49
NC $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.