go back

Initial Hospital Or Observation Visit, Lower Complexity

Pennsylvania rates for HCPCS 99221

The first evaluation by a doctor or other qualified clinician after a person is admitted to hospital as an inpatient or placed under observation care, at the level used for more straightforward cases. It covers taking the history, examining the patient, reviewing results and setting out the initial plan of care for that day.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Initial Hospital Or Observation Visit, Lower Complexity cost?

$112

Typical negotiated rate. In Pennsylvania, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $112 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $112 from a physician practice, and about $123 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 14 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Prices by location type

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$112$89.13 to $155
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$123$83.18 to $324

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $123 · 10th to 90th $78 to $4,786Professionalmedian $112 · 10th to 90th $78 to $191
$100$200$500$1K$2K$5K$10Kfacility $123professional $112

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
$77.62
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$123.03
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$158.49
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$134.90
AmeriHealth
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$323.59
Typical High
$5,370.32
AmeriHealth
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$97.72
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$123.03
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,265.80
Median
$5,011.87
Typical High
$79,432.82
Capital Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$165.96
Typical High
$199.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$158.49
Emblem Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$54.95
Emblem Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$66.07
Median
$109.65
Typical High
$158.49
Geisinger
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$83.18
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$100.00
Geisinger
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$181.97
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$95.50
Typical High
$95.50
Highmark BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$186.21
Independence Blue Cross
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$218.78
Median
$338.84
Typical High
$8,128.31
Independence Blue Cross
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$89.13
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$131.83
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$123.03
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$104.71
Typical High
$158.49
Optum
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$50.12
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$114.82
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$190.55
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$138.04
Typical High
$204.17
UPMC Health Plan
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$102.33
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$190.55
14 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
$38.90
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$43.65
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$13.18
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$8.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$38.02
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$39.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$12.02
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.59
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$7.94
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
25 · Same-day visit
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$95.50
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
GC · Resident with teaching physician
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$144.54
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$43.65
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$13.18
Martin's Point
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$8.71
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$38.90
Typical High
$38.90
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$11.75
Typical High
$11.75
Martin's Point
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$7.94

Where Pennsylvania 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.

Pennsylvania· 19th of 51

$112

AK $174AL $74.13

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.