Price Checker / CPT 99238
How much does Hospital Ip/obs Dschrg Mgmt 30/< cost?
CPT 99238 · Based on 2026 Medicare rates and hospital-published pricing
The average hospital charge is around 12x the fair price — among the most extreme markups. Dispute this.
Fair price
$150–$170
What this should cost
With insurance
~$320
Typical out-of-pocket
Overcharged if over
$210
Push back above this
The average hospital charge of $1,980 is $1,820 over the fair price (about 12x the fair rate).
What hospitals charge for Hospital Ip/obs Dschrg Mgmt 30/<
From hospital-published transparency (MRF) files. These are the hospitals in our database that list this procedure.
| Hospital | Gross Charge | Cash Rate | vs Medicare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Samaritan University Hospital , NY | — | — | 15497% |
| St. Catherine of Siena Hospital SMITHTOWN, NY | — | — | 15497% |
| Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center Los Angeles, CA | $661 | — | 784% |
| Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $201 | $161 | 169% |
| willow creek behavioral health , WV | $200 | — | 167% |
| Haven Behavioral Hospital of West Chester WEST CHESTER, PA | $170 | — | 127% |
| Highland Springs LLC BEACHWOOD, OH | $150 | $950 | 100% |
| Pathways Behavioral Health Services , TN | $150 | $150 | 100% |
| Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital and Center, Inc. Oak Ridge, TN | $220 | — | 78% |
| Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health Leland, NC | $170 | — | 60% |
| Eastside Psychiatric Hospital TALLAAHASSEE, FL | $150 | — | 50% |
| Henry Ford Brighton Center for Recovery Brighton, MI | — | — | 36% |
| Highland Hospital CHARLESTON, WV | $220 | — | -60% |
Were you billed for this procedure?
Send us your bill and we'll compare every line item against Medicare rates and your hospital's published prices. Free review, no obligation.
About Hospital Ip/obs Dschrg Mgmt 30/<
CPT code 99238 refers to hospital ip/obs dschrg mgmt 30/< (billing description: "Hosp ip/obs dschrg mgmt 30/<"). Under the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is reimbursed at $75 in a facility (hospital or surgery center) and $75 in a doctor's office.
The Medicare rate is the closest thing to an objective "what this work is actually worth." A fair cash price for the uninsured is generally 1.5–3x that rate. Hospital sticker (gross) charges are often far higher — but almost nobody actually pays them.
What to do if you were overcharged
- 1Send us your bill — we'll identify this code and compare it against the rates shown above.
- 2Get a dispute letter — citing the Medicare rate and your hospital's own published pricing data.
- 3We negotiate for you — 25% of savings, no savings = no fee.