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Observation Care Admission, Straightforward

New York 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 October 2026.

How much does Observation Care Admission, Straightforward cost?

$138

Typical physician fee. In New York, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $138 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $138 to $138.

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 $55 · 10th to 90th $55 to $60Professionalmedian $138 · 10th to 90th $138 to $138
$100$200facility $55professional $138

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
CDPHP
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$138.04
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$138.04
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$60.26
MVP Health Care
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$269.15
Typical High
$269.15
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$251.19
1 more rate 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
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
GL · Free upgrade
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$60.26

Where New York sits

The same service costs 16.6 times more in Arizona than in South Carolina. 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.

New York· 22nd of 37

$138

AZ $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.