go back

Brief Online Message-Based Doctor Visit

Massachusetts rates for HCPCS 99421

This is a brief, message-based check-in with a doctor or other qualified provider through a secure online patient portal, for an established patient with a new concern that doesn't require an in-person visit. It covers the shorter end of the time a provider spends addressing the concern over a multi-day period. Longer or more involved online exchanges are billed as a separate, more involved service.

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does Brief Online Message-Based Doctor Visit cost?

$17.38

Typical negotiated rate. In Massachusetts, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $17.38 for this service. The price depends on where it is billed: about $17.78 from a physician practice, and about $13.18 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 9 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$17.78$13.18 to $28.18
FacilityA hospital or hospital-owned outpatient department$13.18$9.33 to $15.49

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $13 · 10th to 90th $6 to $19Professionalmedian $18 · 10th to 90th $11 to $39
$5.0$10.0$20.0$50.0$100.0$200.0facility $13professional $18

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
$13.18
Median
$13.18
Typical High
$15.49
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$10.47
Median
$13.49
Typical High
$38.90
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$81.28
AllWays Health Partners
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$12.02
Median
$18.62
Typical High
$41.69
BCBS
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$14.45
Typical High
$33.11
BCBS
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$17.38
Median
$25.70
Typical High
$36.31
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$13.49
Median
$19.95
Typical High
$35.48
Fallon Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$5.62
Median
$12.30
Typical High
$17.78
Fallon Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$8.71
Median
$14.13
Typical High
$23.44
Harvard Pilgrim
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$13.18
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$38.90
Health New England
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$13.80
Median
$21.88
Typical High
$28.18
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$9.55
Median
$81.28
Typical High
$81.28
Mass General Brigham
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$12.02
Median
$18.62
Typical High
$41.69
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$14.45
Median
$16.98
Typical High
$22.91
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$12.88
Median
$20.42
Typical High
$41.69

Where Massachusetts sits

The same service costs 2.2 times more in Minnesota than in Delaware. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

Massachusetts $17.38 · 8th of 51
MN $26.92DE $12.02

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.