Prices at 3 hospitals in Charleston, SC, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $150 — 79% above the US median ($84), roughly 13.0× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bon Secours-St Francis Xavier Hospital | Charleston, SC | $81 | — | ★ 3/5 | 153 min | — |
| Roper Hospital | Charleston, SC | $150 | — | ★ 4/5 | 96 min | — |
| Trident Medical Center | Charleston, SC | $265 | $22 | ★ 3/5 | 126 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.
Price comparison (median)
Typical cash price here is $150 — about 13.0× 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 $231 list price could save about $81 (35%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All Lactate test prices in South Carolina → · All Lactate test prices (national) · All hospitals in Charleston