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Initial Hospital Or Observation Visit, Lower Complexity

Texas 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?

$93.33

Typical negotiated rate. In Texas, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $93.33 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $89.13 from a physician practice, and about $170 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$89.13$74.13 to $126
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$170$75.86 to $331

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $170 · 10th to 90th $76 to $479Professionalmedian $89 · 10th to 90th $63 to $182
$10$20$50$100$200$500facility $170professional $89

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
$83.18
Typical High
$144.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$147.91
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$95.50
BCBS Texas
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$134.90
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$549.54
BCBS Texas
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$63.10
Median
$77.62
Typical High
$154.88
Baylor Scott & White
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$245.47
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$75.86
Median
$75.86
Typical High
$75.86
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$87.10
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$158.49
Health Smart
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$131.83
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$616.60
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$83.18
Typical High
$186.21
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$112.20
Typical High
$147.91
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$10.00
Median
$56.23
Typical High
$74.13
Oscar Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$141.25
Typical High
$177.83
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$87.10
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$204.17
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$79.43
Typical High
$158.49
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$77.62
Median
$102.33
Typical High
$162.18
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$74.13
Median
$74.13
Typical High
$74.13
27 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
$39.81
Typical High
$40.74
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$12.02
Typical High
$12.30
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$8.32
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
AF · Specialist physician
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$147.91
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
HO · Master's level
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$112.20
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TD · Registered nurse
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$125.89
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$40.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$12.02
Typical High
$12.30
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$8.32
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
24 · Unrelated visit after surgery
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$72.44
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
25 · Same-day visit
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$77.62
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
57 · Decision for surgery
Typical Low
$61.66
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$72.44
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
99 · Multiple modifiers
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$72.44
Typical High
$72.44
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
FS · Shared visit
Typical Low
$95.50
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
GC · Resident with teaching physician
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$87.10
Typical High
$95.50
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Q6 · Substitute physician, paid per time
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$40.74
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$12.02
Typical High
$12.30
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$8.32
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
AF · Specialist physician
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$147.91
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
HO · Master's level
Typical Low
$107.15
Median
$107.15
Typical High
$112.20
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
TD · Registered nurse
Typical Low
$123.03
Median
$123.03
Typical High
$125.89
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
25 · Same-day visit
Typical Low
$79.43
Median
$131.83
Typical High
$331.13
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$38.90
Median
$39.81
Typical High
$40.74
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$11.48
Median
$12.02
Typical High
$12.30
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$7.76
Median
$7.94
Typical High
$8.32
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
57 · Decision for surgery
Typical Low
$72.44
Median
$125.89
Typical High
$323.59

Where Texas 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.

Texas· 38th of 51

$93.33

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.