Prices at 3 hospitals in Bakersfield, CA, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $51 — 36% above the US median ($38), roughly 14.7× the Medicare rate.
Lowest cash prices
| Hospital | Location | Cash | Insurer | CMS rating | ER wait | Readmit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kern Medical Center | Bakersfield, CA | $9 | $6 | ★ 1/5 | 306 min | — |
| Mercy Hospital | Bakersfield, CA | $51 | $8 | ★ 3/5 | 193 min | — |
| Bakersfield Memorial Hospital | Bakersfield, CA | $70 | $4 | ★ 3/5 | 240 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 $51 — about 14.7× the Medicare rate ($3). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($7).
💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $189 list price could save about $137 (73%).
Rough estimate from this procedure’s median insurer-negotiated rate. Your actual cost depends on your plan — confirm with your insurer.
All Sedimentation rate (ESR) test prices in California → · All Sedimentation rate (ESR) test prices (national) · All hospitals in Bakersfield