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Critical Care, First 30 Minutes or More

Nationwide rates for HCPCS 99291

Direct, continuous medical care provided by a physician or qualified provider to a critically ill or critically injured patient whose condition poses a high risk of life-threatening deterioration. It covers the first block of time, starting once the provider has spent at least 30 minutes, managing the patient's care, including reviewing test results, adjusting treatment, and coordinating with other clinicians. It applies regardless of where the care takes place, whether an emergency department, ICU, or other hospital setting.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Critical Care, First 30 Minutes or More cost?

$263

Typical negotiated rate. Nationwide, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $263 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $263 from a physician practice, and about $339 from a hospital or other facility. The two figures are alternatives, not parts of one bill.

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 80 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

Where it's billed changes the price

Billed byTypicalRange
Physician practiceA doctor's office, clinic or independent provider$263$209 to $427
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$339$245 to $589

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $339 · 10th to 90th $200 to $2,570Professionalmedian $263 · 10th to 90th $178 to $813
$1.0$10.0$100.0$1.0K$10.0K$100.0Kfacility $339professional $263

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
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$645.65
Typical High
$5,495.41
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
25 · Same-day visit
Typical Low
$891.25
Median
$2,691.53
Typical High
$6,456.54
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$173.78
Median
$239.88
Typical High
$851.14
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
25 · Same-day visit
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$380.19
Typical High
$1,047.13
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$263.03
Median
$2,454.71
Typical High
$14,454.40
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$204.17
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$512.86
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$229.09
Median
$281.84
Typical High
$3,630.78
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$208.93
Median
$309.03
Typical High
$602.56
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$213.80
Median
$575.44
Typical High
$3,467.37
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$190.55
Median
$316.23
Typical High
$741.31
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
25 · Same-day visit
Typical Low
$85.11
Median
$234.42
Typical High
$398.11

What it costs in each state

The same service costs 1.9 times more in Minnesota than in Delaware. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

MN $417DE $219

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.