Lactate test Cost by Hospital

Lactate test is a laboratory test. Prices are from 2367 US hospitals across 52 states, from their machine-readable files.

$84median cash price · 2367 hospitals, 52 statestypically $23–$237 depending on the hospital
≈ 7.3× Medicare · High vs MedicareFind hospitals near you

Price comparison (median)

Chargemaster (list price)
$136
Cash / self-pay
$84
Insurer-negotiated
$25
Medicare pays
$12
$23$237
Median cash $84  ·  Medicare $12  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $84 — about 7.3× 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 $52 (38%).

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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 89 min —
Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport-St Mary Medical Cent Shreveport, LA $13 $12 ★ 2/5 — —
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Newark, NJ $13 $6 ★ 2/5 176 min —
Clara Maass Medical Center Belleville, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 142 min —
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Rahway Rahway, NJ $13 $6 ★ 4/5 114 min —
Trinitas Regional Medical Center Elizabeth, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 209 min —
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick, NJ $13 $6 ★ 2/5 206 min —
Community Medical Center Toms River, NJ $13 $6 ★ 1/5 180 min —
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Somerset Somerville, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 188 min —
Jersey City Medical Center Jersey City, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 187 min —
Monmouth Medical Center Long Branch, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 136 min —
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Livingston, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 129 min —
Monmouth Medical Center-Southern Campus Lakewood, NJ $13 $6 ★ 3/5 141 min —
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton Hamilton, NJ $13 $6 ★ 4/5 172 min —
University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Galveston, TX $13 $12 ★ 3/5 190 min —
Uchealth Pikes Peak Regional Hospital Woodland Park, CO $13 $12 — 109 min —
Banner Heart Hospital Mesa, AZ $13 $16 ★ 2/5 — —
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute Harrisburg, PA $13 $28 — — —
Seton Medical Center Harker Heights Harker Heights, TX $13 $51 ★ 4/5 174 min —
Marion General Hospital Marion, IN $13 $14 ★ 3/5 132 min —
Essentia Health St Mary's Medical Center Duluth, MN $13 $39 ★ 4/5 201 min —
Essentia Health Duluth Duluth, MN $13 $49 — — —
Marion General Hospital Columbia, MS $13 $14 ★ 1/5 126 min —
Shore Medical Center Somers Point, NJ $13 $12 ★ 3/5 148 min —
Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Montclair, NJ $13 $166 ★ 4/5 229 min —

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 October 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: $84; Medicare pays $12.

InsurerHospitalsNegotiated median
Tricare / VA 453
$12
$11 – $68
Medicare 600
$12
$11 – $53
Medicaid 373
$12
$7 – $30
UnitedHealthcare 1621
$12
$10 – $118
Independent Health 51
$12
$9 – $12
Amerigroup 181
$12
$10 – $44
Univera 16
$12
$9 – $17
Devoted Health 257
$12
$12 – $13
Geisinger 69
$12
$10 – $78
Highmark 134
$13
$8 – $58
AmeriHealth 252
$13
$9 – $70
Molina Healthcare 596
$13
$9 – $55
Humana 1129
$13
$12 – $127
Centene / Ambetter 866
$14
$11 – $95
Anthem 635
$16
$10 – $93
UPMC Health Plan 103
$16
$11 – $80
Bright Health 66
$16
$12 – $138
Oscar Health 233
$19
$12 – $58
MVP Health Care 82
$20
$9 – $98
UCare 66
$20
$12 – $87
Kaiser Permanente 237
$20
$11 – $204
Blue Cross Blue Shield 1384
$23
$12 – $168
Workers' Comp / No-Fault 156
$23
$14 – $203
Priority Health 59
$25
$9 – $126
EmblemHealth 76
$26
$9 – $69
SelectHealth 47
$27
$12 – $120
Medica 245
$29
$12 – $137
Cigna 1259
$31
$12 – $181
Aetna 1498
$31
$11 – $190
Health Net 320
$37
$12 – $292
Harvard Pilgrim 58
$44
$12 – $113
HealthPartners 274
$46
$12 – $135
Sanford Health Plan 72
$48
$11 – $127
Security Health Plan 54
$56
$11 – $103
Coventry 171
$71
$12 – $204
AvMed 63
$86
$13 – $242
MultiPlan / PHCS network 909
$107
$25 – $329
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
New York$35
Tennessee$38
Arizona$38
Michigan$44
Rhode Island$44

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 2367 US hospitals across 52 states, the typical (median) cash price is $84, 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 $23 and $237 — 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 2367 US hospitals is $84. Most hospitals fall between $23 and $237. 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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