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Inpatient Consultation, Straightforward

California rates for HCPCS 99251

A specialist's opinion requested by the team looking after you while you are in hospital. The specialist reviews the specific question asked, takes a focused history, examines you and sends back a written opinion and recommendations. This version covers a brief consultation about a comparatively simple question.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Inpatient Consultation, Straightforward cost?

$501

Typical physician fee. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $501 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $85.11 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 3 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $200 · 10th to 90th $200 to $200Professionalmedian $501 · 10th to 90th $49 to $501
$50$100$200$500$1Kfacility $200professional $501

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
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$51.29
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$1,698.24
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$199.53
Median
$199.53
Typical High
$199.53
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$501.19
Typical High
$501.19
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$67.61
Median
$67.61
Typical High
$67.61
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$36.31
Median
$54.95
Typical High
$93.33

Where California sits

The same service costs 16.6 times more in Massachusetts 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.

California· 11th of 42

$501

MA $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.