Lactate test Cost by Hospital

Lactate test is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2352 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$83median cash price · 2352 hospitals, 52 statestypically $24–$236 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.2× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$136
Cash / self-pay
$83
Insurer-negotiated
$25
Medicare pays
$12
$24$236
Median cash $83  ·  Medicare $12  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $83 — about 7.2× the Medicare rate ($12). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($23).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $136 list price could save about $53 (39%).

Estimate what you’ll pay
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Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Ochsner St Mary Morgan City, LA $13 $12 ★ 2/5 81 min 15.4%
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent Shreveport, LA $13 $12 ★ 2/5
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Newark, NJ $13 $6 ★ 2/5 169 min 14.9%
Clara Maass Medical Center Belleville, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 138 min 16.1%
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway Rahway, NJ $13 $6 ★ 4/5 110 min 14.9%
Trinitas Regional Medical Center Elizabeth, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 203 min 14.3%
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick, NJ $13 $6 ★ 2/5 197 min 15.5%
Community Medical Center Toms River, NJ $13 $6 ★ 1/5 182 min 15.7%
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset Somerville, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 184 min 14.6%
Jersey City Medical Center Jersey City, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 190 min 16.1%
Monmouth Medical Center Long Branch, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 129 min 16.2%
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Livingston, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 120 min 15.9%
Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus Lakewood, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 146 min 16.1%
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton Hamilton, NJ $13 $6 ★ 4/5 174 min 15.6%
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Galveston, TX $13 $12 ★ 3/5 191 min 16.0%
Uchealth Pikes Peak Regional Hospital Woodland Park, CO $13 $12 117 min 15.0%
Banner Heart Hospital Mesa, AZ $13 $16 ★ 2/5 14.4%
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute Harrisburg, PA $13 $28
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $13 $51 ★ 4/5 174 min 16.3%
Marion General Hospital Marion, IN $13 $14 ★ 3/5 126 min 14.6%
Essentia Health St Mary's Medical Center Duluth, MN $13 $39 ★ 4/5 196 min 14.4%
Essentia Health Duluth Duluth, MN $13 $49 14.7%
Marion General Hospital Columbia, MS $13 $14 ★ 1/5 130 min 15.4%
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Montclair, NJ $13 $166 ★ 4/5 234 min 15.1%
Jefferson Stratford Hospital Stratford, NJ $13 $12 ★ 2/5 235 min 17.5%

CMS rating = overall hospital star rating (1–5); ER wait = median minutes in the emergency department; Readmit = 30-day readmission rate (lower is better) — all from Medicare’s Care Compare; “—” = not reported. Data last updated August 2026. Prices from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); Medicare benchmark from CMS PFS/CLFS/IPPS. Prices below 15% of the median are excluded as likely partial or mis-coded charges. Estimates — confirm with the hospital. Report an incorrect price.

What insurers pay for Lactate test

Median in-network negotiated rate by insurer, across hospitals that publish it (cheapest first). Your actual rate depends on your specific plan and deductible. Cash / self-pay for comparison: $83; Medicare pays $12.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Tricare / VA 451
$12
$11 – $67
Medicare 591
$12
$11 – $53
Medicaid 367
$12
$7 – $30
EmblemHealth 63
$12
$9 – $97
UnitedHealthcare 1588
$12
$10 – $121
Independent Health 51
$12
$9 – $12
Amerigroup 179
$12
$10 – $44
Univera 16
$12
$9 – $17
Devoted Health 253
$12
$12 – $13
Geisinger 69
$12
$10 – $78
AmeriHealth 250
$13
$9 – $70
Highmark 131
$13
$8 – $58
Molina Healthcare 590
$13
$9 – $55
Humana 1114
$13
$12 – $127
Anthem 616
$14
$10 – $93
UPMC Health Plan 100
$15
$11 – $80
Centene / Ambetter 844
$15
$11 – $95
Bright Health 65
$16
$12 – $138
Oscar Health 218
$19
$12 – $70
MVP Health Care 81
$20
$9 – $104
UCare 65
$20
$12 – $87
Kaiser Permanente 236
$20
$11 – $204
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 155
$21
$14 – $203
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1378
$23
$12 – $169
Priority Health 60
$24
$9 – $125
SelectHealth 47
$27
$12 – $120
Medica 244
$29
$12 – $137
Aetna 1471
$31
$11 – $190
Cigna 1234
$32
$12 – $181
Health Net 317
$38
$12 – $294
Harvard Pilgrim 58
$44
$12 – $113
HealthPartners 273
$46
$12 – $135
Sanford Health Plan 70
$48
$11 – $127
Security Health Plan 54
$56
$11 – $103
Coventry 167
$71
$12 – $205
AvMed 61
$86
$13 – $248
MultiPlan / PHCS network 894
$108
$24 – $328
Healthcare Highways 51
$163
$40 – $347

Negotiated rates are from hospitals’ machine-readable files (45 CFR §180); payer names are normalized to major brands, so a brand may span several plans. Estimates — confirm with your insurer.

Where it’s cheapest

StateMedian cash
New Jersey$13
Tennessee$38
Arizona$38
Michigan$44
Rhode Island$44
Louisiana$46

Prices by city

Prices by state

Doctors who perform this

Clinicians who reported the most Medicare volume for this service. This reflects Original Medicare activity only and is a volume signal, not a quality ranking.

ClinicianSpecialtyLocationMedicare services
Ronda Bloom, MDInternal MedicineNew Hyde Park, NY301
Richard Belkin, MDPulmonary DiseaseSanta Barbara, CA150
Min Xu, M.D.PathologyTacoma, WA132
Walter Willoughby, MDPulmonary DiseaseLas Vegas, NV80
Robert Wright, MDPulmonary DiseaseSanta Barbara, CA72
Noah ChutzPhysician AssistantRedding, CA57
Sharon Lee, PMHNP, FNPNurse PractitionerAnaheim, CA48
Cory Gingold, PAPhysician AssistantFlagstaff, AZ46
Manjit Bhamrah, M.D.Pulmonary DiseaseGlendale, AZ28
Deborah MacyNurse PractitionerWyckoff, NJ23
Emily Robbie, FNP-CNurse PractitionerPolacca, AZ16
Barbara Macfarlane, M.D.Family PracticeEverett, WA15

Browse doctors by specialty & city →

Does Medicare cover Lactate test?

Yes — Medicare generally covers Lactate test. It is typically an outpatient service under Medicare Part B, with a Medicare-approved amount of about $12. After your annual Part B deductible, you typically owe the 20% coinsurance — roughly $2 — unless a Medicare Advantage or supplemental (Medigap) plan covers it.

General guidance from Medicare’s national rates — your actual coverage and share depend on medical necessity, your plan, and where the service is performed. Confirm with Medicare or your plan.

About these prices

Based on prices published by 2352 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $83, versus a chargemaster (list) price around $136, a median insurer-negotiated rate of $25, a Medicare rate of about $12. Most cash prices fall between $24 and $236 — a wide spread, which is exactly why comparing hospitals pays off.

How to save

  • Ask each hospital for its cash / self-pay price — for shoppable services it is often far below the list price.
  • Compare several nearby hospitals; prices for the same service can differ severalfold.
  • Request a written estimate and the billing code (CPT/DRG) before scheduling.
  • Use the Medicare benchmark above to judge whether a quote is reasonable.
  • If you are uninsured, ask about financial assistance or prompt-pay discounts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Lactate test cost without insurance?
The median cash (self-pay) price across 2352 US hospitals is $83. Most hospitals fall between $24 and $236. Prices vary widely between hospitals, so it pays to compare before you book.
Does Medicare cover Lactate test?
Yes — it is generally covered under Medicare Part B as an outpatient service (Medicare-approved amount about $12). After your Part B deductible you typically owe 20% coinsurance, unless a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan covers it.
What does Medicare pay for Lactate test?
Medicare pays about $12. We show this as a benchmark — a fair cash price is often within a few multiples of the Medicare rate.
Why do Lactate test prices vary between hospitals?
Hospitals set their own chargemaster and cash prices and negotiate different rates with each insurer, so two hospitals in the same area can charge very differently for the same service.
Is the cash price lower than using insurance?
Sometimes. If you are uninsured or have a high deductible, the cash/self-pay price can be lower than the insurer-negotiated rate — ask the hospital for both.

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