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COVID-19 Specimen Collection, Hospital Outpatient

California rates for HCPCS C9803

Hospital outpatient clinic visit specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (coronavirus disease [COVID-19]), any specimen source

Rates data updated July 2026.

How much does COVID-19 Specimen Collection, Hospital Outpatient cost?

$145

Typical negotiated rate. In California, July 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $145 for this service. Most negotiated rates run $145 to $145.

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 5 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $145 · 10th to 90th $145 to $145Professionalmedian $29 · 10th to 90th $23 to $398
$50.0$100.0$200.0facility $145professional $29

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. Small sample; interpret with caution. Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$22.91
Median
$22.91
Typical High
$28.84
Contra Costa Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$100.00
Median
$100.00
Typical High
$100.00
Kaiser Permanente
Setting
Professional
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$23.44
Median
$398.11
Typical High
$398.11
Lucent Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$144.54
Median
$144.54
Typical High
$144.54
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
Global
Typical Low
$41.69
Median
$41.69
Typical High
$41.69

Where California sits

The same service costs 85.1 times more in Nebraska than in Florida. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Pick one to see its carriers and full range.

California $145 · 7th of 50
NE $1,950FL $22.91

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.