Skin biopsy cost in California

Prices at 149 hospitals in California, from their machine-readable files. Here the median cash price is $749 — 95% above the US median ($384), roughly 6.2× the Medicare rate.

Lowest cash prices

HospitalLocationCashInsurerCMS ratingER waitReadmit
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center Martinez, CA $120 — ★ 4/5 171 min —
Jerold Phelps Community Hospital Garberville, CA $137 — — 149 min —
Bakersfield Memorial Hospital Bakersfield, CA $152 $304 ★ 3/5 240 min —
Kern Medical Center Bakersfield, CA $154 $135 ★ 1/5 306 min —
Palmdale Regional Medical Center Palmdale, CA $186 $177 ★ 3/5 142 min —
Mercy Medical Center Merced, CA $194 $265 ★ 3/5 224 min —
St Elizabeth Community Hospital Red Bluff, CA $224 $288 ★ 4/5 133 min —
Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CA $227 $523 ★ 4/5 259 min —
Bear Valley Community Hospital Big Bear Lake, CA $257 $181 — 139 min —
Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA $265 $557 ★ 4/5 183 min —
Mercy Medical Center of Mt Shasta Mount Shasta, CA $300 $332 ★ 4/5 89 min —
St Joseph's Medical Center of Stockton Stockton, CA $349 $429 ★ 3/5 225 min —
San Joaquin General Hospital French Camp, CA $353 $503 ★ 2/5 213 min —
California Hospital Medical Center La Los Angeles, CA $369 $316 ★ 2/5 254 min —
Northridge Hospital Medical Center Northridge, CA $381 $508 ★ 4/5 215 min —
Healdsburg Hospital Healdsburg, CA $384 $3,168 — 94 min —
Mercy Medical Center Redding Redding, CA $384 — ★ 2/5 194 min —
Loma Linda University Medical Center Loma Linda, CA $389 $691 ★ 4/5 413 min —
Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta Murrieta, CA $389 $691 ★ 2/5 224 min —
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital Loma Linda, CA $389 $691 ★ 3/5 232 min —
Loma Linda VA Medical Center Loma Linda, CA $389 $691 ★ 3/5 — —
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Banning, CA $464 $886 ★ 3/5 194 min —
UCSF Health Saint Francis Hospital San Francisco, CA $485 $456 ★ 3/5 138 min —
Saint Francis Medical Center Lynwood, CA $520 $520 ★ 3/5 238 min —
Garden Grove Hospital & Medical Center Garden Grove, CA $520 $552 ★ 2/5 134 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)

Chargemaster (list price)
$1,303
Cash / self-pay
$749
Insurer-negotiated
$586
Medicare pays
$121
$329$1,357
Median cash $749  ·  Medicare $121  ·  bar = typical cash range (10th–90th percentile)
Is this a fair price?
1× Medicarefair ≈2×5×+

Typical cash price here is $749 — about 6.2× the Medicare rate ($121). High vs Medicare. A fair cash price is usually within ~2× Medicare ($242).

💡 Asking for the cash price instead of the $1,303 list price could save about $554 (43%).

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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.

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Skin biopsy cost in other states

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